USTA St. Louis Set to Host 3 Section-Level NTRP Adult Tourneys

“The fact that St. Louis is on board for doing each of those, we really appreciate it,” Howes said. “We look forward to the St. Louis tournaments every year because we know they do a great job. Dwight Davis is a fantastic facility. And the tournament directors do a first-class job at all times. I appreciate USTA St. Louis and the fabulous leadership they bring to the table.”

New for 2023 is the “Tournament Trailblazers” program to recognize players who frequently participate in NTRP adult tourneys throughout the year. Individuals who play in at least three Missouri Valley adult tournaments (Level 1-7) this year will earn acknowledgement on the USTA website and get placed in a drawing for a prize package. Individuals who play in five or more tourneys and seven or more tourneys will be in drawings for a different prize package.

“Tennis is the best sport out there, and we always want to provide players with a positive experience,” Howes said. “We feel like tennis speaks to everybody. So most of our NTRP tournaments offer different levels for all skill players. If you’re just starting out or haven’t played in very long, we have a division for you. If you haven’t played in a while, come back to the courts as we’d love to have you.”

For each of the NTRP section-level adult tournaments USTA St. Louis is running, men and women can register for singles and doubles at the NTRP 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 levels. Singles and doubles options for men and women are likewise available in the open divisions. Generally, singles play in the morning is followed by doubles action. Matches are best two out of three sets with a 10-point tiebreaker determining the third set.

“Typically the open division is going to be your player who is 4.5 or higher,” Howes said. “I don’t want to exclude or intimidate those players who are not. Because a lot of times your average player such as myself might want to test the waters and see how I match up against somebody who is a 4.5 or 5.0, just to see where I’m at. We welcome everybody. It’s going to be a great experience for everybody involved.”

In addition to the three tournaments USTA St. Louis is hosting, Kansas City, Tulsa, Overland Park and Topeka are also running NTRP adult section-level tourneys in 2023. To view the Level 4 adult tournament calendar, click here.

Players interested in attempting to qualify for the 2024 NTRP National Championships must compete in at least one NTRP Level 4 event in their age group/division in 2023 to earn points and become eligible.

The top-ranked player in the end-of-year Missouri Valley rankings receives an invitation — or golden ticket — to represent USTA Missouri Valley at the NTRP National Championships. These national events take place typically in April in a variety of locales. More information on the qualifying process is available here.

To assist with consistent messaging and disseminating educational info, Howes is hosting a monthly webinar series called “Tournament Talk." The series will provide players, tournament directors and district administrators clarity to frequently asked questions and discuss pertinent topics tied to USTA Missouri Valley adult tournaments. “Tournament Talk” will be recorded so those unable to attend live can watch after the fact.

“From 2021 to 2022, the number of participants who played in these NTRP tournaments increased,” Howes said. “We’re looking for the same level of increased play from last year to this year. With more marketing, more promotion with the Tournament Talks and the Tournament Trailblazer program, it’s going to be nothing but a positive and increased level of play. I’m really looking forward to watching it grow this year.”