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What is Junior Tennis?

Get ready for fun!

Junior tennis is a great time for boys and girls to continue to fall in love with the sport and develop their games, while keeping an eye on steady improvement and progression. UTR Sports has a well-defined and time-tested pathway that will help every boy and girl, all over the world, progress on their junior tennis pathway, from the CBR RATING, to the very top of the tennis world.

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Join Over 1 Million Rated Players

UNDERSTAND YOUR UTR RATING

Your UTR Rating is a FREE assessment of your skill level reflected by a two-decimal point number. Every player, including junior tennis players, is rated on the same 1-16.5 scale regardless of age, gender, geographic location, or socio-economic background. The algorithm factors in match weight, match rating, and when the match was played. Regardless of whether you or your opponent is rated higher, every game counts towards your UTR Rating, so never give up!

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UTR Sports & College Tennis Go Hand in Hand

Upgrade to Power, Unlock More Benefits

  • Upgrading your UTR Sports account to Power (just $10 a month with an annual subscription) unlocks even more tools for boosting your college tennis journey

  • Advanced analytics for tracking progress & scouting opponents 

  • Enhanced player search & rankings with more filters

  • Verified event registration fee savings

  • Discounts from partners like Tennis Warehouse, IMG Academy+, Dunlop

  • Access to the UTR Sports College Fit tool

  • NEW: See which college coaches view your profile

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Find Colleges that Fit You Best

Build your school list today!

  • Search over 2,000 tennis colleges across the U.S. using the UTR College Fit search tool (for Power Players only)
  • Search for schools through the full range of NCAA (DI, DII, DIII), NAIA, and NJCAA programs and view team's Power 6 ratings
  • Compare your UTR Rating to real student-athletes on college tennis team rosters
  • Create your own personalized saved lists of both players and tennis colleges to follow and monitor their results

Improve Your UTR Rating

FINDING THE RIGHT COMPETITION

Playing well, playing often, and being patient are the keys to improving your UTR Rating. Competing in verified events (sanctioned tournaments run by UTR Sports, USTA, ITF, and federations) is the best way to obtain a reliable Verified UTR Rating. Check out UTR Sports events, specifically designed for juniors, including College Camps, Junior Circuits, and College Circuits.

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WHAT TO KNOW: Junior Tennis to College Tennis

JUNIOR TENNIS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

TESTIMONIALS

Advice from college tennis coaches...

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[UTR Rating] is a great metric. It's probably the most reliable one we have at this moment to get an accurate depiction of where teams are, where players are, so we utilize it almost daily.”

Dean Orford
Head Coach, Tulsa University Women's Tennis
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We will reach out to guys within a certain [UTR Rating] range, and it's an efficient way to make sure we're turning over every stone.

Derek Schwandt
Head Coach, Liberty University Men's Tennis
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One of the first things we do is look at their UTR Rating. By no means is that an end-all, but it gives us a really good gauge about the player’s level.

Anthony Pham
Head Coach, University of Colorado Women's Tennis
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We also use UTR as a starting point when recruiting players. We will look for matches versus specific opponents who we know well. it really gives us a lot of information about the player without having seen them compete.

Alison Ojeda
Head Coach, University of Tennessee Women's Tennis

FAQS ABOUT JUNIOR TENNIS

FAQS ABOUT JUNIOR TENNIS

What mental preparation and strategy goes into junior tennis?

Mental preparation and strategy are key for junior tennis players working toward college tennis success. Developing mental toughness helps juniors manage pressure, stay focused, and bounce back quickly from losses — all qualities college coaches value. Mental strategies such as having a pre-match routine and scouting opponents (tip: research player stats on UTR Sports) can give players a competitive edge in tournaments (like UTR Sports events). Parents of junior tennis players can support mental preparation by encouraging positive self-talk, setting goals, and promoting a growth mindset. Every loss can be a lesson, and remember that UTR Rating factors in games won and lost, meaning every game counts, even if the match is lost.

How can juniors learn from pro tennis players?

Learning from the pros is a powerful way for junior tennis players to improve their own game. By studying the way professional players compete and act, juniors can learn on-court tactics and techniques, mental toughness strategies, and routines and habits that lead to success. Parents can encourage their players to watch and analyze pro matches and discuss the skills they see that might work in their own game. By learning from the best, junior players can develop their own tennis for college and beyond.

What role can parents play?

Parental support and involvement play a crucial role in the success of junior tennis players. Parents who provide positive encouragement, support tournament schedules, and help set realistic goals (like achieving a certain UTR Rating) can boost their child’s confidence by creating a balanced environment for growth. Focusing on effort over outcomes and celebrating progress can help junior tennis players build toward goals like college tennis.

What about international junior tennis?

International junior tennis offers players the chance to compete at a higher level, see how they compare to players from other countries, improve their UTR Rating, and gain exposure to college tennis opportunities. Global events can enhance a player’s tennis resume by adding experience playing against diverse opponents. For parents, supporting international competition means helping with travel planning, goal setting, and maintaining balance.

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