Tennis | Tennis South Africa launches ITF World Tennis Number

• Pioneering Global Tennis Rating System aims to get more people playing tennis more often, no matter their age, gender or ability in South Africa.

• Easy and free-to-use player rating system is powered by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the global governing body for the sport;

• System provides a Number for Singles and a Number for Doubles and helps individuals find an opponent of a similar ability to compete against by utilising industry-leading technology to match players;

• South Africa becomes the latest nation to launch this groundbreaking new global rating system

• The single global scale ranges from 40 (beginners) to 1 (the world’s best), allowing anyone to find the right match no matter where they are in the world.

Named the ITF World Tennis Number, and powered by the global governing body for the sport of tennis, the new and easy-to-use player rating system consists of a platform which will officially launch worldwide and be available to all national association members from January 2021. Upon its launch, players across South Africa will be able to use the platform to find their perfect match on court no matter their age, ability or gender. ITF World Tennis Number is based on a universal scale that ranges from the Number 40 for beginners to 1 for the world’s best. The scale includes a unique feature called Game zONe, which identifies evenly matched opponents on the scale, ensuring that players have the best experience on court. As players compete, they can gradually start to improve their number by recording and measuring their progress, as well as interacting with, and assessing, other tennis players.

In addition to helping players find the best match on court, ITF World Tennis Number is being launched to support the goals of all tennis players throughout the world, whatever they may be. As a real-time skill level rating, ITF World Tennis Number provides players with statistics to track their tennis progress based on actual performance, offers head-to-head comparisons with upcoming opponents (or even the professionals), and allows users to create a ‘favourites list’ of players, friends and club mates they would like to play in future. 

The ITF World Tennis Number aims to make tennis more accessible to people of all abilities across South Africa and to create exciting experiences for players. Users will be able to identify the right players to compete against, whether they be in their local home environment or travelling for work or holiday across South Africa or overseas. Crucially, ITF World Tennis Number addresses the challenge that has long confronted tennis players of all levels, in helping them find a player of the right ability to compete against. 

The introduction of the ITF World Tennis Number across South Africa today takes the concept of tennis ratings to a new level both domestically and internationally. Having been approved by the ITF Board of Directors in 2018, South Africa has become the latest nation to launch the new system. From today, players across South Africa will be able to view the ITF World Tennis Number website and get up to speed on how the Digital Platform will work once it goes live.

"We are excited to introduce the ITF World Tennis Number to South Africa, a platform that embodies our commitment to making tennis accessible and inclusive for everyone. This innovative system, driven by the ITF, enhances the credibility and reach of our initiative,” TSA President Gavin Crookes.

“We are excited to be part of this groundbreaking platform, which will create opportunities, increase participation, and promote healthier, more active lifestyles. By matching players of similar abilities, this system ensures an enjoyable and competitive experience for all, no matter their age, gender, or skill level,” added Crookes.

This initiative fits perfectly into Tennis South Africa’s vision statement: "To see someone playing tennis, somewhere, every day."

TSA signed up to the ITF World Tennis Number in November 2024, which was one of the key objectives of the ITF2024 Strategy, approved by TSA.