Ratings/Appeals

2025 Off-Season - CTA & Bonita League- Rating Changes Completed!

 

Topdog Tennis performed a Computerized Rating Review.  Ratings were changed for some CTA & Bonita League players.

Click Here for  A LIST OF PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

 

NTRP Ratings

• Required: Every player on a roster must have an official NTRP rating.

• New Players: Those entering the CTA or Bonita Leagues should self-rate at their current USTA rating, if available. The League Coordinator must approve any exceptions.

• Topdog vs. USTA Ratings: A player’s Topdog rating may differ from their USTA rating if approved by the League Coordinator.

• Captain’s Responsibility: Captains must verify that all player ratings are accurate and up to date on their team roster. (See the USTA Ratings link at swfla-tennis.com).

• No USTA Rating: New Bonita League players without an NTRP rating may self-rate, ideally with guidance from their Club professional.

• League Authority: The League reserves the right to adjust player ratings at any time. In addition, the CTA/Bonita League may decline to accept USTA self-ratings until the player has established results at that level.

Ratings in Topdog Tennis

• Database Connection: Topdog Tennis is not linked to the USTA NTRP rating database.

• Corrections: If a player’s Topdog rating is lower than the USTA computer rating, captains must contact the CTA League Coordinator to update it, so it matches the USTA computerized rating (when available).  Or appeal it.

• Mid-Season Changes: If the USTA updates a player’s rating during a Bonita League season, that player may finish the season at their current level. The new rating will take effect in the next season unless successful in appealing to the Bonita League Coordinator.

• Accuracy Requirement: Matches played with an incorrect higher USTA computer rating may result in a default.

NTRP Rating Appeals

• Who Can File: Appeals must be submitted by your Club RSPA Professional or Director of Tennis. If your club has neither, your team captain may submit. Appeals from individual players will not be accepted.

• Effect of Appeal:

  • Once approved, the player may compete at the new level and is considered equal to others at that level for that season only.

  • Appeals of USTA ratings are valid for one season.

  • If a player has a USTA computer rating higher than their requested Topdog rating, they must appeal their USTA rating each season.

• Timing: Appeals must be approved before any matches are played. Matches played before an appeal decision may be subject to default.

Annual Player Review

• Each summer, at the end of the league year, the CTA/Bonita Leagues review the performance of all players. This evaluation focuses on dynamic ratings. Players whose dynamic ratings consistently exceed their current NTRP level will have their rating adjusted upward for the following league seasons (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

Dynamic Ratings

• How Ratings Are Calculated:
  Each player’s dynamic rating is updated after every match. The calculation considers:

  1. The players’ prior ratings.

  2. The match score.

  3. The type of match (league, tournament, social), which determines weighting.

• Expected Outcomes:
  For every match, the system projects an expected score based on player ratings.

  • If the actual result is close to the expectation, ratings do not change.

  • If the result is better or worse than expected, ratings are adjusted.

• Important:
  Ratings are not based solely on wins and losses.

  • A higher-rated player can lose rating points even if they win but perform below expectation (e.g., barely winning when a comfortable victory was predicted).

  • A lower-rated player can gain rating points even in a loss if they perform better than expected.

• Doubles Matches:
  For doubles, the team’s rating is the average of both partners’ ratings. Any rating adjustment is then applied individually to each player’s doubles rating.

Examples

• Example 1:

  • Player A (3.652) vs. Player B (3.482).

  • Actual result: A wins 6–2, 6–2.

  • Expected result: A to win more narrowly (e.g., 6–3, 6–4).

  • Adjustment: A increases to 3.682; B decreases to 3.452.

• Example 2:

  • Jim (4.500) vs. Bob (4.732) in a USTA tournament.

  • Actual result: Jim wins 6–4, 6–4.

  • Adjustment: Jim increases to 4.575; Bob decreases to 4.657.

  • If Jim wins again with the same score, his rating rises to 4.635 and Bob’s falls to 4.597, moving Jim ahead of Bob.