OTA and The Supreme Court Launch 1st Universal Tennis Flex Leagues!

The OTA, in partnership with Universal Tennis (UTR), is pleased to announce the formation of the first Universal Tennis (UT) Flex Leagues in Ontario! Two separate singles leagues under the OTA Flex Leagues banner will kick off in the Toronto area beginning May 17. The North Toronto Flex League will be overseen by Alastair Millar and the team at The Supreme Court, an OTA-member club. The OTA Player Development team will oversee the Toronto and Surrounding Areas Flex League.

The UTR Rating Index

The OTA Flex Leagues match results will contribute towards a player’s Verified Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), an index intended to be a reliable and accurate rating of a players' tennis skill. UTR rates all players - men, women, and children - on a single 16-point scale (with two decimal places, e.g., 11.29) that works for players globally regardless of their skill level; from beginners to top professional competitors. The UTR's algorithm calculates a player’s rating from their last 30 eligible matches that have been played within the preceding 12 months. The main data points are the percentage of games won (not simply the won/lost result), and the opponent’s rating. Each match played generates a rating; a player’s UTR is a weighted average of all eligible matches.

The UTR rating is the world’s most accurate rating platform. Universal Tennis began the system over 15 years ago. Today, there are over 800,000 players worldwide with a UTR rating! Players are measured on the same rating scale as touring pros like Novak Djokovic (UTR 16.19), Leylah Fernandez (UTR 12.82), Denis Shapovalov (UTR 15.58) and Simona Halep (UTR 13.21), as well as thousands of US college athletes and hundreds of thousands of recreational players!

UTR uses a single scale, for both male and female players, that embraces athletes of any age. It is a common yardstick that makes it easy to mix genders and age groups for close, enjoyable matches.

UT Flex Leagues

There are active Flex Leagues in over 65 cities in the US and Europe. Players wishing to join a local Flex League, including the OTA Flex Leagues, can do so by becoming a FREE Universal Tennis member and registering to play four matches with players at their level. Leagues are five weeks long. Level-based play ensures competitive matches, and players choose when and where they play, working around their own schedule.

All Ontario Flex League matches count toward a player's Verified UTR – and prizes will be awarded each month – a great added value for all competitors!

What's the difference between UTR and Verified UTR?

“The team at The Supreme Court are excited to be on the ground floor of UT Flex Leagues in Ontario. The UTR platform is an excellent way to ensure high quality matches and a wider variety of opponents. The UTR platform gives players a clear picture of where their game is at and how they compare to their playing partners and the larger tennis community.” – Alastair Millar, Tennis Director, The Supreme Court.

“The OTA is pleased to be partnering with Universal Tennis and The Supreme Court team! The OTA has a well-established competitive structure but sees the need to activate the thousands of rec-level players and help them become the best that they can be. The UTR platform provides all players and their clubs with accurate measurables that will help players improve and allow clubs and pros to accurately assess their members and students.” – Kartik Vyas, OTA Player Development Manager.

How do you rate? Now, it’s your turn to get counted!

Become a FREE Universal Tennis Member here.

To find out more about the OTA Flex Leagues or to register as a competitor for The North Toronto Flex League or the Toronto and Surrounding Flex League, visit OTA Flex Leagues here. Be sure to create your Universal Tennis profile if you have not already done so - you won't be able to access the league registration without one! Note: Players must be 16 years old or older.

Players can also register as a player by scanning the QR code below:

About Universal Tennis

Universal Tennis became a strategic partner of the OTA in 2021. UT is the company behind the UTR Engagement Platform, anchored by the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR). Universal Tennis supports the growth of tennis by providing a ratings solution and technology that assists players to compete in truly level-based play and increase engagement at all levels. The organizations mission is to create more opportunities and pathways to the game by bringing cutting edge analytics and community-based technology to players worldwide, independent of their level of play. UTR is the world’s most accurate tennis rating system and rates all players on the same scale, regardless of age, gender and geography. For more information on Universal Tennis, click here.