The Circuit: A Tennis Odyssey
Every once in a while, I run into a tennis book that I struggle with. Such is the case with The Circuit: A Tennis OdysseyRead More
An Update to Rankings Points at the NTRP National Championships
Conducting National Championships is woven into the very fiber of the USTA’s existence. When the organization was confronted with the problem of declining participation in tournaments and focused on increasing play at NTRP events, the most natural “solution” was creation of a National Championship. As soon as a tournament is designated as a “National Championship,” it is also almost a foregone conclusion that it will be Level 1 in the USTA framework. Unfortunately, that sequence of completely logical thought breaks the rankings pyramid and hurts the overall tournament ecosystem.
Yoga Toes
As I have frequently mentioned on this site, I recently suffered from plantar fasciitis for almost two years. Apparently, my arduous and painful journey withRead More
1 responseTennis Beyond the Headlines: February 3, 2025
Tennis is a spectacle, and this week was no exception. Shifts in Grand Slam schedules, reflecting on the Australian Open triumpt of Madison Keys, andRead More
Enhancing the NTRP System to Save Tournament Tennis
When NTRP-based USTA League tennis emerged as a dominant force within the tennis ecosystem, it sparked recognition that the rating system could also be usedRead More
2 responsesIdeas for Modernizing the NTRP System
Yesterday’s post introduced the NTRP Advisory Group, which is a USTA National level committee tasked with enhancing the NTRP implementation to ensure it aligns withRead More
Who is in Charge of the NTRP System Anyway?
The National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) revolutionized Adult recreational tennis in the United States. The system for classifying players according to skill level fueled theRead More
The 2024 USTA Yearbook
Every year, the USTA publishes a yearbook summarizing the organization’s activities. This practice dates back at least to the 1890s, as I have seen digitizedRead More
A Case Study of the New Doubles Selection Criteria for the 2025 NTRP National Championships
Last week, I wrote about the new doubles selection criteria that were recently implemented for the 2025 USTA NTRP National Championships. As a short summary,Read More
2 responsesTommy Paul Stretches His Achilles and Hip Flexors
Earlier this month, my friend Donna left a comment asking about the stretching routine I credit with solving my chronic plantar fasciitis problems. I fullyRead More