Compete


Do you want to compete?

There is a very broad range of competition offered throughout Great Britain, the trick is to find the level that suits you. Competition is a fun way to meet new people, improve your tennis, and keep the game interesting.

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What to expect

It's normal to be nervous, but as long as you've chosen the right competition for your ability you have nothing to worry about. Whether you win or lose, you'll be improving your game and having fun.

3 easy steps to get you competing:

  1. *Sign up to British Tennis Membership. This will give you a membership number, a player rating and a range of exclusive benefits. Your player rating is a way of measuring your tennis ability, regardless of your age, and will allow you to compete against players of similar ability.

  2. Determine what grade of competition you should be playing in. The grading system runs from 7 (which is the most recreational) down to 1 (which is National level). There is also the chance to play team tennis which allows you to compete with your friends.

    Find out more here


  3. *Find a competition. You can use the Find a Tournament search on the LTA site, ask your coach to recommend a competition, or call up your County LTA office and get their advice.

Competition is also run especially for schools. Visit our Schools section to find out more, and to find out how to get your school involved.

There is also a wheelchair tennis competition structure which exists from local to international level, see the wheelchair pages for more information.

Rankings & Ratings

For everyone who is serious about competitive tennis, a player rating is a must-have. It's a bit like a golf handicap. If you say what your rating is, other players will know what level you are irrespective of age.

Whether you are a top performer or new to tennis, there is a rating category suitable for you. Ratings do not depend on age, so if you are a junior you could have a better rating than your parents. It can help you set goals and prepare for more challenging competitions.

A rating is a way of measuring your tennis ability, so you can see how you are improving. It also means you can make sure you are entering the right standard of competitions.

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There is also a Rankings system which works alongside ratings as another measure of a player's standard.

More info on the LTA rankings page

Competition grades at a glance:

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All tournaments are now graded to show their level. Grading means you can work out which tournaments are right for you and follow a clear pathway through the competition structure.

There are 7 grades of individual tournaments, plus international-level and team competitions.

  • Grade 7: Assessment free (Ariel Mini Tennis is among these)
  • Grades 5 & 6: county & club-level competitions
  • Grades 3 & 4: regional and county competitions
  • Grades 1 & 2: national-level competitions

Did you know?

Perhaps you have had a transplant, there are national and international tournaments - visit transplant sport

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