How do USTA junior rankings work?
A junior's ranking is built from their 6 best singles tournaments in the last 12 months, added together, plus 15% of their 6 best doubles tournaments. Nothing else counts, so a tournament only helps if it beats the 6th-best result already on the list.
Read the full answer →How are USTA junior tournament points worked out?
At Levels 1 to 5, a junior earns points for the furthest round reached in the main draw, plus a flat amount for each consolation round won. At Levels 6 and 7, they earn points for each win, counting the first 4, with a bonus for the champion and finalist. A Level 1 champion earns 3,000; a Level 7 champion up to 56.
Read the full answer →Will this tournament help my junior's USTA ranking?
Only if the result beats the 6th-best result already on their list. A ranking counts the 6 best singles results in the last 12 months, so a new result replaces the sixth one only when it is bigger, and the ranking goes up by the difference between the two.
Read the full answer →How do USTA junior tournaments pick who gets in?
Each tournament sets how it picks its field. Most Level 1 to 6 tournaments take the highest-ranked players first. Almost every Level 7 takes the lowest-ranked first, because it is the entry level. Many Junior Circuit events go in order of entry, and some tournaments are picked by the director.
Read the full answer →What is the difference between the USTA National Standings List and the seeding list?
The National Standings List decides who gets into a tournament: the 6 best singles results plus 15% of the 6 best doubles results. The singles seeding list decides where a junior is seeded once they're in: the 6 best singles results only. So doubles helps a junior get in, but not their seed.
Read the full answer →What are the USTA junior tournament levels?
USTA junior tournaments run on seven levels. Level 7 is the entry level and Level 1 is the National Championships: the lower the number, the stronger the field and the more a result is worth. Before Level 7 there are Junior Circuit events, for a first tournament.
Read the full answer →Does playing up an age group help a USTA junior ranking?
Yes. Points earned in an older age division count in full toward a junior's own division, as long as they have played at least one ranking tournament in their own division and the result is among their 6 best. Points only move up at 20%.
Read the full answer →What is WTN, and how is it different from a USTA ranking?
WTN, the World Tennis Number, is the ITF's rating of how well a player plays, on one scale from 40 (closer to a beginner) to 1 (the world's best professionals). A USTA ranking is different: it adds up the points a junior earned at tournaments. The two answer different questions, so they can move in opposite directions.
Read the full answer →What is the difference between a USTA Level 6 and a Level 7?
Level 7 is the entry level: one day of short matches, 12 points for each main-draw win, and almost every Level 7 takes the lowest-ranked players first. Level 6 is the step up: up to two days, often best of 3 with a match tiebreak, 20 points for each main-draw win, and most take the highest-ranked players first.
Read the full answer →What should we know before our junior's first USTA tournament?
Most juniors start at a Junior Circuit event or a Level 7. A Junior Circuit event is a few short matches in half a day, and every player plays every round. Level 7 is the first ranked tournament: one day, and each win, up to 4, earns ranking points. Both are built for newer players.
Read the full answer →How do we choose our junior's next USTA tournament?
Ask four things. Which level fits where your junior is? Will they get in, given how that tournament picks its field? Will a good result beat the 6th-best result already on their ranking? And when do entries close? A tournament that won't move the ranking can still be worth playing for the matches.
Read the full answer →Quick answers
How do USTA junior rankings work?
How many tournaments count toward a USTA junior ranking?
The 6 best singles tournaments in the last 12 months, plus 15% of the 6 best doubles tournaments.
Does playing more tournaments raise a ranking?
Not by itself. Only the 6 best singles results count, so more tournaments help only when one of them beats the 6th-best result already counting.
Do older results count less?
No. There is no fading within the 12 months: a result from 11 months ago counts the same as last weekend's. It drops off once it is more than 12 months old.
Does doubles count toward a USTA junior ranking?
Yes, at 15%. The points from the 6 best doubles or mixed doubles tournaments count at 15% toward the National Standings List, the list tournaments read when they pick by ranking. Doubles doesn't count toward the singles seeding list.
Does losing the first match earn any points?
Not from the main draw at Levels 1 to 5: the round a player starts in earns nothing. Consolation rounds won still add points. At Levels 6 and 7, points go by wins, so a first-match loss earns nothing until the junior wins a match.
Does a bye count for points?
No. A bye earns nothing. A walkover does: if the opponent withdraws, the player gets that round's points.
Does a retirement count as a win?
Yes. A retirement or default after the match starts counts as an on-court win.
Why isn't my junior on the ranking list?
To be listed, a junior needs to be the right age for the division, to have played at least one ranking tournament in that division or the one below it, and to have at least one ranking point from a win on court. Wins by walkover alone don't get a junior listed.
How often are USTA junior rankings updated?
The lists publish at least monthly, and in practice weekly, on Wednesdays.
Will one more tournament raise my junior's ranking?
Only if the result is bigger than the 6th-best result already counting. The ranking goes up by the difference between the two.
How are USTA junior tournament points worked out?
How many points does a Level 5 champion get?
300. The finalist gets 225, a semifinalist 150 and a quarterfinalist 105.
How many points does a Level 4 champion get?
540. The finalist gets 405, a semifinalist 270 and a quarterfinalist 189.
How many points does a Level 3 champion get?
900. The finalist gets 675, a semifinalist 450 and a quarterfinalist 315.
Do points add up round by round?
Not at Levels 1 to 5. A junior gets the figure for the furthest round reached, not the sum of every round. At Levels 6 and 7 they do, because each win earns points.
Does the consolation draw earn points?
Yes. At Levels 1 to 5, each consolation round won adds a flat amount: 105 at Level 1, 62 at Level 2, 32 at Level 3, 19 at Level 4, 11 at Level 5. At Level 6 each consolation win earns 10, and at Level 7, 6.
Is there a limit on wins at Levels 6 and 7?
Yes. Only the first 4 wins in a tournament count, main draw and consolation together.
What is the most a Level 6 or Level 7 pays?
95 at Level 6 (4 wins and the champion bonus) and 56 at Level 7.
Does a bye earn points?
No. A bye moves a junior through the draw but earns nothing. A walkover does pay that round's points.
Will this tournament help my junior's USTA ranking?
Does every tournament add to a USTA junior ranking?
No. Only the 6 best singles results in the last 12 months count, so a result helps only when it beats the 6th-best one.
How much will a good result raise the ranking?
By the new result minus the 6th-best result it replaces.
What if my junior has played fewer than 6 tournaments?
Then there's an empty slot, and every point from a new result counts in full.
Why did my junior's ranking drop when they didn't play?
A result that is more than 12 months old drops off, and the next-best result takes its place.
Do doubles results raise the ranking?
At 15%. The 6 best doubles results count at 15% toward the National Standings List, the list used to pick fields by ranking.
How do USTA junior tournaments pick who gets in?
What does top down mean?
The tournament takes the highest-ranked players first when it fills. Most Level 1 to 6 tournaments work this way.
What does bottom up mean?
The tournament takes the lowest-ranked players first. Almost every Level 7 works this way, so the entry level stays open to newer players.
Does a higher ranking help get into a Level 7?
No. Almost every Level 7 picks the lowest-ranked players first, because it is the entry level. A strong ranking can keep a junior out of one.
How do Level 6 tournaments pick players?
Most Level 6 tournaments take the highest-ranked players first, by the National Standings List, when the tournament fills.
Do Junior Circuit events use rankings?
Many don't. They go first come, first served, so entering early matters more than ranking.
What is director selection?
The tournament director picks the field. No ranking guarantees a place at those tournaments.
Which ranking decides who gets in?
The National Standings List: the 6 best singles results plus 15% of the 6 best doubles results. Seeds come from a different list, the singles seeding list.
Does doubles help a junior get into a tournament?
Yes, at Level 6 and up when the tournament picks by ranking. Acceptance reads the National Standings List, which includes 15% of the 6 best doubles results.
When are selections and draws posted?
Selections post after entries close. Draws usually post the week of the tournament.
What is the difference between the USTA National Standings List and the seeding list?
Which USTA list decides who gets into a tournament?
The National Standings List, the 6 best singles results plus 15% of the 6 best doubles results, when the tournament picks by ranking.
Which list decides seeding?
The singles seeding list: the 6 best singles results only, with no doubles.
Does doubles count toward seeding?
No. Doubles counts at 15% toward the National Standings List, which decides who gets in, but not toward the singles seeding list.
How often do the lists update?
At least monthly, and in practice weekly, on Wednesdays.
What are the USTA junior tournament levels?
What is the lowest USTA junior tournament level?
Level 7, the first ranked tournament. Junior Circuit events come before it, for a first tournament.
What is a USTA Junior Circuit tournament?
Their very first tournament. A few short matches. Every player plays every round. Half a day. Most events run 2 to 4 hours. No pressure on results. It's about the first experience.
What is a USTA Level 7 tournament?
First ranked tournament. One day of play, several short matches. Points start here. Each win, up to four, earns ranking points.
What is a USTA Level 6 tournament?
Stepping up: longer matches, two days. Up to 2 days of play. Plan for a full weekend. Longer formats. Often best of 3 with a match tiebreak. Who gets in. When it fills, most Level 6s pick from the top of the standings list.
What is a USTA Level 5 tournament?
Regular weekend tournaments in their section. Up to 3 days, usually open to players from any section. Points by the round. Lose the first match and the main draw pays nothing.
What is a USTA Level 4 tournament?
Their section's big events. Deeper fields and up to four days.
What is a USTA Level 3 tournament?
National and sectional championship play. Strong fields, including national events and sectional championships.
What is a USTA Level 2 tournament?
Top national events. National Level 2s run at four sites at once, each with a 32-player draw.
What is a USTA Level 1 tournament?
National Championships. The USTA National Championships.
How many points is a Level 6 win worth?
20 points for each main-draw win and 10 for each consolation win, counting the first 4 wins. The champion gets 15 more where the tournament awards one.
How many points is a Level 7 win worth?
12 points for each main-draw win and 6 for each consolation win, counting the first 4 wins. The champion gets 8 more where the tournament awards one.
Does playing up an age group help a USTA junior ranking?
Do points from playing up count?
Yes, at 100% toward the junior's own division, if the result is among their 6 best and they have played at least one ranking tournament in their own division.
Does my junior need to play in their own division too?
Yes. Points from an older division count toward their own division only once they have played at least one ranking tournament in it.
Do younger-division points count in the older division?
At 20%, if the result is among the 6 best there. No tournament in the older division is needed for that.
Can playing up hurt a ranking?
Not the junior's own list: older-division points can only add to it, and only the 6 best results count.
Why did my junior's ranking drop when they aged up?
Points from the younger division count only 20% toward the older one, so most of what they built counts at a fifth. It rebuilds as they play in the new division.
What is WTN, and how is it different from a USTA ranking?
Is WTN the same as a USTA ranking?
No. WTN rates how well a player plays; a USTA ranking adds up the points they earned at tournaments. The two can move in opposite directions.
What is a good WTN?
The scale runs from 40 to 1: 40 is closer to a beginner, and 1 is the level of the world's best professionals. Lower is stronger.
Why did my junior's WTN go down after a win?
WTN moves by how the result compares with what was expected. A close win when an easy one was expected can lower it.
Does tournament level affect WTN?
No. A Level 7 win and a Level 1 win count the same way; the opponent's rating is what matters.
How does a junior get a WTN?
Automatically, by playing tournament or league matches. There is no signup.
Does WTN decide who gets into USTA junior tournaments?
Rarely. A few tournaments select by rating, but most pick by ranking, by order of entry, or by the director.
What is the difference between a USTA Level 6 and a Level 7?
Is Level 6 or Level 7 higher?
Level 6. The lower the number, the stronger the field. Level 7 is the entry level, the first ranked tournament.
How many points is a Level 7 win worth?
12 for each main-draw win and 6 for each consolation win, counting the first 4 wins. The champion gets 8 more and the finalist 6 more, where the tournament awards them.
How many points is a Level 6 win worth?
20 for each main-draw win and 10 for each consolation win, counting the first 4 wins. The champion gets 15 more and the finalist 10 more, where the tournament awards them.
How long does a Level 6 last compared with a Level 7?
A Level 7 is one day of several short matches. A Level 6 runs up to 2 days, so plan for a full weekend, and matches are often best of 3 with a match tiebreak.
Can a high ranking keep my junior out of a Level 7?
Yes. Almost every Level 7 takes the lowest-ranked players first, so a strong ranking can keep a junior out.
How do Level 6 tournaments pick who gets in?
Most take the highest-ranked players first, by the National Standings List, which includes 15% of the 6 best doubles results.
Is winning a Level 7 worth more than a few Level 6 wins?
No. Winning a Level 7 earns up to 56. Three main-draw wins at a Level 6 earn 60.
What should we know before our junior's first USTA tournament?
What is the first USTA junior tournament level?
Junior Circuit events come first, for a very first tournament. Level 7 is the first ranked tournament.
How long is a Junior Circuit event?
About half a day. Most run 2 to 4 hours, with 2 to 4 short matches, and every player plays every round.
Does a Junior Circuit event earn ranking points?
Points start at Level 7, where each win, up to 4, earns ranking points.
Will my junior get into a Level 7 with no ranking?
Level 7 is built for that. Almost every Level 7 takes the lowest-ranked players first.
How do Junior Circuit events pick who gets in?
Many go first come, first served, so enter early.
When will we know if our junior got in?
Selections post after entries close. Draws usually post the week of the tournament.
When does my junior get a ranking?
Once they've played a ranking tournament in their division, or the one below it, and earned at least one point from a win on court. Walkovers alone don't get a junior listed.
How early should we start getting ready?
About 14 days out. Coach Ace's free Junior Circuit and Level 7 guides have a 14-day plan, stage by stage.
How do we choose our junior's next USTA tournament?
What should we look at when choosing a junior tennis tournament?
The level, how the tournament picks its field, whether a good result would beat the 6th-best result already on the ranking, and when entries close.
Will a higher-level tournament always help more?
Not always. A result helps the ranking only if it beats the 6th-best result already counting, and a junior has to get in first.
Should my junior enter early?
At many Junior Circuit events, yes: they go first come, first served. Elsewhere, entering early doesn't change who gets in, but every tournament has a deadline.
Does doubles matter for getting in?
At Level 6 and up, when the tournament picks by ranking, yes. Acceptance reads the National Standings List, which includes 15% of the 6 best doubles results.
Does playing up an age group count?
Yes. Points from an older division count in full toward your junior's own division, if the result is among their 6 best and they've played at least one ranking tournament in their own division.
Is a tournament worth playing if it won't raise the ranking?
It can be, for the matches and the experience.
Tools
- USTA points calculatorRanking points for a result, by level, draw and round.
- Tournament level guidesWhat each level is like, what to pack, and a countdown.
- Tournaments near youUpcoming junior tournaments and when entries close.
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