Join the Milwaukee ladder
Create a free account and add your NTRP so your profile shows how you play. You'll be placed into a ladder with other players in your area. No tryouts, no waitlists, no season start date. Join anytime.
- Choose your city at signup (Milwaukee, WI today)
- Add your NTRP (2.5 to 5.0) so opponents can see your level on your profile
- Not sure of your NTRP? We link you to the official USTA self-rating guide right in the signup form
- Pick the wrong rating? You can update it any time from your dashboard settings
- Everyone in the city shares one ladder for now
- Your record updates as you log matches
What is NTRP?
NTRP (National Tennis Rating Program) is the standard skill scale used by the USTA, ranging from 1.5 (brand new to tennis) up to 7.0 (touring pro). Most recreational players land between 2.5 and 5.0. We use NTRP so opponents can see your level at a glance, and so you can sort the ladder to find players in your range. We make it easy to figure out your rating: the signup form links to the official USTA self-rating PDF, and you can change it later in one click if you guessed too high or too low.
Schedule matches easily
Browse the ladder and challenge players. Agree on a time and court directly in the app. No committee approval, no fixed slot assignment.
- Challenge any player on your city ladder
- Both players confirm the time and location
- Add preferred courts or locations to your profile
- See upcoming matches on your dashboard
Track your progress
After your match, either player reports the score. Your points, record, and spot on the ladder update as results are logged.
- Results show up on your profile and the standings
- View match history and scores
- Earn points for playing, games won, match wins, and upsets
- Use the score breakdown on standings to see how your points add up
How we keep score
Two simple things drive the ladder: the points you earn from each match, and the standard tennis format you play it in.
Points algorithm
Standings are recalculated from every completed match. Both showing up and playing well count.
+5 for playing
Both players earn 5 participation points per completed match, win or lose.
+1 per game won
Every individual game you win across all sets adds a point. Closer matches still pay out.
+10 match win bonus
The match winner gets an extra 10 points on top of participation and game points.
+1 to +10 upset bonus
Beat a player ranked above you and you earn 1 bonus point per rank you jumped, capped at 10.
Quick example: You win 6‑4, 6‑3 against a player ranked one spot above you. You earn 5 (play) + 13 (games) + 10 (win) + 1 (upset) = 29 points. Your opponent earns 5 + 7 = 12 points.
Match format
We follow standard USTA rules. Most ladder matches use the format below — but if both players agree on something else (pro sets, shorter matches, etc.) that's fine too.
Best of 3 sets
First player to win 2 sets wins the match.
First to 6 games wins a set
You must win by 2, so 6‑4 and 6‑3 finish the set outright.
At 5‑5, play it out
Win the next two games for 7‑5. If it goes to 6‑6, play a tiebreak.
Tiebreak: first to 7, win by 2
The tiebreak game decides the set. Score is recorded as 7‑6.
Sportsmanship & line calls follow The Code, the USTA's player conduct guide. Worth a read if you're ever unsure.
Read The Code (USTA, PDF)Open Rating: a projected skill score
The points ladder rewards activity. Open Rating is a separate, Elo-style projection of how strong each player actually is, so you can find a competitive match at a glance.
How Open Rating works
Open Rating runs alongside the ladder and never affects your ladder points. Your projected number changes after every confirmed ranked singles match based on three things: who won, how strong the opponent was, and the final score.
Seeded from your NTRP
Your starting projection comes from your self-rated NTRP. Higher NTRP starts you higher on the Open Rating scale, with wide gaps between levels (3.0 starts at 900, 3.5 at 1200, 4.0 at 1600) so upsets feel meaningful.
Opponent strength matters
Beating a stronger opponent moves your rating more than beating someone at your level. Losing to a weaker opponent costs more than losing to a stronger one.
Score and recency dampen movement
Tight three-set matches move ratings less than dominant straight-set wins, and playing the same opponent repeatedly within two weeks counts for less each time.
Projected range until 2 confirmed matches
With zero or one ranked match we show your rating as a likely range instead of a single number. Play at least two confirmed ranked matches to lock in your Open Rating.
Status labels: Unplaced (no ranked matches yet), Provisional (one match), and Ranked (two or more). Your rating keeps moving even after you go Ranked, just less per match as you play more.
Why it's different
Traditional leagues vs Open Play Network
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Email help@openplaynetwork.com and we'll get back to you.