WTN is easy to misread, because the number falls as you improve. If you go from 25 to 23, you have moved up. That is the opposite of UTR and NTRP, where a higher number is better.
The International Tennis Federation developed the rating. The ITF now trades as World Tennis, although many documents still use the old name. Anything about WTN written before August 2026 may also be out of date.
| Rating | Run by | Scale | Stronger player has | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTN | ITF (World Tennis) | 40 to 1 | A lower number | Weekly, on Wednesdays |
| ITN | ITF | About 10.3 to 1 | A lower number | Described as superseded by WTN (see below) |
| UTR | UTR Sports | 1.00 to 16.50 | A higher number | Every 24 hours |
| NTRP | USTA | 1.5 to 7.0 | A higher number | Published once a year in December |
How the WTN scale works
- One scale for everyone: the scale applies regardless of age, gender or ability. The LTA gives this example: a 24-year-old man at 21.4 should have a competitive match against a 52-year-old woman at 23.8.
- A rating, not a ranking: match wins earn points for a USTA ranking. WTN comes from match scores compared with a prediction.
- Two numbers: you get one for singles and one for doubles. World Tennis says it is common for them to differ by more than 1.0.
What changed in the WTN algorithm in August 2026
World Tennis changed the calculation on 12 August 2026, according to the LTA. Many guides, and some official pages we read in November 2026, still describe the older method, with results back to 2016. Where they conflict, use the description below.
| Area | How it works now |
|---|---|
| Time window | A rolling three-year window. Older results stay in your match history, but stop counting once they fall outside it. The change is gradual, and playing more matches does not remove old results faster. |
| Score | Set outcomes remain the main factor, but games now count too. A 6-0 set moves your number more than a 6-4 or 7-5 set. |
| Inactivity | If you do not compete for over a year, a small, gradual adjustment may apply. Your confidence level also falls. |
| Young players | A small development adjustment applies, mainly for juniors. |
| Doubles | The same changes apply, and your partner's rating is no longer part of the calculation. |
The LTA says the change repositions some groups of players on the scale and that most players are likely to see their number adjusted. So a number from before August 2026 may not compare directly with one from today. The LTA's FAQ also says the algorithm will keep changing.
How is the World Tennis Number calculated?
- Before the match, the algorithm uses both players' ratings to predict the result.
- After the match, it compares the actual score with that prediction.
- Your number improves if you beat the prediction. It can get worse even after a win: if you had a 90% chance of winning and won in three sets, World Tennis says you did not meet the projection.
- Sets you win still help in a match you lose. A winner of a match that ends two sets to one is updated with two set wins and one set loss.
- Recent results weigh more than old ones, longer sets weigh more than shorter ones, and a match tiebreak weighs less than a full set.
Each number also has a confidence level, based on how much and how recently you have played. A blue checkmark means high confidence, and the number is considered verified. A grey one means lower confidence. Lower confidence makes your number move more for the same results.
How to use your Game zONe
Game zONe is the range of ratings where you have about a 35% to 65% chance of winning. In the LTA's example, a player at 30 may have a Game zONe of 27 to 33. Only singles players rated 10 or above have one, and doubles numbers do not. Matches outside the zone still count.
To improve your number, World Tennis says to keep playing and to perform better than the algorithm predicts. Winning sets against similar or stronger opponents helps, and losing sets to similar or weaker opponents hurts. Stopping a match early to protect your number does not help: the LTA's FAQ says the system is designed to discourage it. For a training plan, see our 4-week plan.
WTN vs ITN: is ITN still used?
ITN (International Tennis Number) is the ITF's older rating, and a lower number also means a stronger player. We could not read any official ITF statement that retires it. Secondary sources describe it as superseded by WTN: a 2019 ratings blog wrote that "it appears the ITN will be no more", and the commercial site Bounce says WTN replaced it and that some federation profiles still show it. If a form still asks for an ITN, ask the organizer what it will accept.
WTN and ITN conversions: published figures disagree
No single official conversion exists. The USTA says there is "no direct one-to-one comparison" between NTRP and WTN, because they use different algorithms and different results. The USTA does make one narrower statement: since the WTN scale is 2.5 times larger than the UTR scale, a 2.5-point difference in WTN is around a 1-point difference in UTR. That compares the size of gaps. You cannot use it to turn a WTN into a UTR.
The table sets a 2008 USTA chart beside the commercial estimates from Bounce. On ITN they disagree by one level for most of the scale. Bounce's page does not say whether its WTN figures reflect the August 2026 changes. All values are approximate.
| NTRP | ITN on the 2008 USTA chart | ITN by Bounce | WTN by Bounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 10 | 10.2 | About 38 |
| 2.0 | 9 | 10.1 | About 34 |
| 2.5 | 8 | 9 | About 28 |
| 3.0 | 7 | 8 | About 22 |
| 3.5 | 6 | 7 | About 17 |
| 4.0 | 5 | 6 | About 12 |
| 4.5 | 4 | 5 | About 8 |
| 5.0 | 3 | 4 | About 5 |
| 5.5 | 2 | 3 | About 3 |
| 6.0 to 7.0 | 1 | 1 to 2 | About 1 to 2 |
For UTR and NTRP charts, see UTR vs NTRP.
How to find your World Tennis Number
| Where you play | How you get a number | Where to see it |
|---|---|---|
| United States | The USTA says that if you played with the USTA in the last 5+ years, in singles or doubles, you have one. USTA and ITF tournaments, leagues and match play all count. It is free. | Your USTA account player profile, or worldtennisnumber.com, which needs its own login |
| Great Britain | Advantage members in the Play or Compete categories select Activate Your WTN on the My Game Dashboard and answer five questions. The LTA says the number arrives in 5 to 10 minutes. | Your LTA Advantage account |
| Elsewhere | A number can be allocated to anyone with a match in the WTN database. If you have played but have no number, your national or regional association may not have contributed data. | Your national association, or your ITF profile if you played the World Tennis Tour Juniors |
You can also post casual results through My Matches on worldtennisnumber.com, in over 130 countries, if you are 18 or over and your opponent is registered. Do not submit results your national association has recorded or will record.
Who uses WTN, and does it replace NTRP?
- United States: the USTA uses it for WTN tournaments and match play, selection and seeding in USTA junior and adult tournaments, ITF acceptance, college tennis and junior team tennis. Its 2024 sheet calls WTN the exclusive rating for USTA Junior Tournaments and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
- Great Britain: the LTA announced in November 2021 that it would replace its own rating system.
- Adoption: the USTA says over 170 countries have adopted it.
WTN does not replace NTRP in USTA League. The USTA says NTRP remains the foundation of the league. League results do feed your WTN, but you cannot base a self-rate grievance on it.
TennisAI shows estimated WTN and ITN numbers in its Progress tab. They come from your video analyses and the app labels them as not official. They are not your World Tennis Number, which comes only from recorded match results, and TennisAI is not affiliated with the ITF.
Frequently asked questions
Is a higher or lower World Tennis Number better?
Lower is better. The scale runs from 40 for beginners to 1 for elite professionals.
What is a good World Tennis Number?
There is no official label for a good number. A more useful check is whether your matches are competitive: your Game zONe shows the range where you have about a 35% to 65% chance of winning.
Why did my WTN change when I did not play?
World Tennis says new historic matches and new players can shift ratings across the system, and algorithm updates can too. The August 2026 update changed many numbers, and long inactivity can also bring a small adjustment.
Has the WTN replaced the ITN?
Secondary sources say so, but we could not read an official ITF statement retiring the ITN. Treat ITN as superseded, and ask the organizer if a form still requests it.
Does WTN replace NTRP in USTA League?
No. The USTA says NTRP remains the foundation of USTA League, and that there is no direct one-to-one comparison between the two.
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Sources
- World Tennis Number: Algorithm enhancements 2026
- World Tennis Number: WTN algorithm enhancements now live (October 2026)
- World Tennis Number: Frequently Asked Questions
- LTA: WTN algorithm changes FAQ, August 2026
- LTA: World Tennis Number
- LTA and ITF: World Tennis Number principles guide
- LTA: New rating system announcement, November 2021
- USTA: ITF World Tennis Number player page
- USTA: ITF World Tennis Number page for organizers (WTN and UTR spacing)
- USTA: ITF World Tennis Number and USTA NTRP one-pager, 2023
- USTA: ITF World Tennis Number one-sheet, 2024
- USTA: World Tennis Number widget launch, June 2022
- ITF: World Tennis Number FAQ for WTT Juniors, January 2025
- USTA: National Tennis Rating Program chart with ITN column, revised 2008 (hosted by Tennis Warehouse)
- Bounce: Tennis Rating Converter (commercial estimates)
- Computer Ratings blog: ITF announces new World Tennis Number, 2019
- AP via WTOP: The International Tennis Federation is now World Tennis, June 2026
This article is general information about tennis training and does not replace a coach or medical advice. Stop and see a professional if something hurts. TennisAI is made by Pace, the publisher of this blog. TennisAI is not affiliated with USTA, UTR Sports, the ITF or any official tennis association. Rating systems change, so check the official sources for current rules.
