TR

Players used to be obsessed with their USTA ranking, and I really didn’t think I would see the day when this would no longer be true, but it seems to be so.

Juniors have found a new focus, and are now preoccupied with their standing on Tennisrecruiting.net or in tennis speak, "TR." This, by the way, is a serious omission in the article in the May/June 2010 issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine entitled, "What’s the Story With Tennis Lingo?"

TR has a good ranking system, and I am told by several 12-year-old ranking experts that it is more accurate and reflective of actual ability then the USTA system.

I coach a "Five-Star" who I think is in second grade. The concern is that he will need to achieve "Blue Chip" status to build interest by fifth grade or his marketability will have suffered.