How to Appeal Your NTRP Rating in TennisLink, Step by Step
You appeal your NTRP rating in TennisLink through the USTA self-rate and appeal system, where you log in, find the appeal option, and choose to appeal up or down. The system runs an automated check against the USTA appeal range and returns Granted or Denied instantly, with no committee and no written explanation. If granted, your rating changes right away. The result is final, so it is worth estimating how close you are to a band edge before you commit.
Before you start
An NTRP appeal is only useful if you understand what it does. The system compares your hidden two-decimal rating to a band edge. Appealing up checks your rating against your current level, and appealing down checks it against the next level below. The exact range the USTA uses is not published, so you cannot know in advance whether you will be inside it.
Because the result is instant and final, confirm two things first: that you actually want to move levels, and that you are likely close enough to an edge for the appeal to be granted. This site can estimate how near you are to a band ceiling or floor before you click, which the official tool will not preview for you.
Step by step in TennisLink
- Log in to your USTA account and open TennisLink, the USTA league and rating portal.
- Go to your NTRP rating or self-rate section, where your current published level is shown.
- Find the automated appeal option for your rating.
- Choose the direction you want, up to the next level or down to the level below.
- Confirm the appeal. The system instantly checks whether your hidden rating falls within the USTA appeal range.
- Read the result, which will say Granted or Denied with no further detail.
- If granted, your published rating updates immediately and applies to future registrations.
After the result
If your appeal is denied, nothing changes and you keep your current level. The denial does not tell you your exact rating, only that you were outside the range for the move you tried.
If your appeal is granted, the change takes effect at once. That can affect your eligibility for a league you are already in, since a new level may not match the division you registered under. A granted appeal also makes you eligible for dynamic disqualification, the three-strike system that can move a player who repeatedly overperforms. Make sure the new level fits the teams and divisions you plan to play before you appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to wait for someone to review my NTRP appeal?
No. The appeal is automated. TennisLink checks your rating against the USTA appeal range and returns Granted or Denied instantly, with no committee review or written explanation.
Can I undo an NTRP appeal after it is granted?
No. The result is final. Once an appeal is granted, the rating change stands, so decide carefully before you confirm it.
Unofficial. NTRP and USTA are trademarks of the United States Tennis Association; this site is independent and not affiliated with the USTA. Your official rating lives in TennisLink.