Format

Tennis scoring terms in plain English: what love, deuce, advantage, break point and bagel mean, plus where 15-30-40 comes from and what historians dispute.

How amateur tennis tournaments work: knockout, round robin and compass draws, seeds and byes, match scoring, and what to expect on your first tournament day.

Super tie-break rules in plain English: first to 10 points, win by two, who serves when, when players change ends, plus doubles order and simple strategy.

Tennis doubles rules in plain English: how the serving and receiving order works, when the alleys are in play, tie-breaks, lets, and common arguments settled.

Tennis doubles strategy for club players: the four formations, where to stand on serve and return, when to poach, and how to talk so you win more points.

Mixed doubles tennis explained: how the rules and scoring work, where to stand, how to share the court with a partner, and tactics that win at club level.

What a tennis UTR rating is, how the 1-16.5 scale is calculated from match results, how to get a first rating, and what a good UTR looks like for adults.

The ITF World Tennis Number runs from 40 (beginner) down to 1 (elite). Learn how WTN is calculated, what confidence means, and how to read your own number.

UTR, NTRP and WTN do not convert exactly. See how the three tennis rating scales compare, a rough guide to where they overlap, and how to use it.

What an NTRP rating is, what each level looks like on court, how self and computer ratings differ, and how to rate yourself without getting it wrong.

How tennis rating systems work: UTR, NTRP and WTN side by side, what each number means for an amateur, and how to estimate your own level honestly.