What is the difference between ranking and rating?

Your ranking is your place on a KNLTB list of the best players. Your rating is your personal number that changes after every official match. Every KNLTB player has a rating, but only players in ranking tournaments have a ranking.

How do I get onto the KNLTB ranking?

By earning points at tournaments that count for that ranking, such as National Ranking Tournaments for the KNLTB Ranking or the Junior Tour for the Junior Ranking.

Who can enter National Ranking Tournaments?

Players with playing strength 1 to 4. Each level has extra conditions on playing strength and ranking position.

How do I get into the Dutch Championships?

Through the acceptance rules in the current KNLTB National Ranking Tournaments regulations. Your ranking position plays a role.

Rating, playing strength and ranking: the overview

KNLTB rankings explained

Your ranking is your place on a KNLTB ranking list. That is different from your rating or playing strength: the rankings list the best players in the Netherlands, ordered by results in specific tournaments.

By 359.tennis Coaching Team · Gediplomeerd coachteam · NTC / TV De Kegel

Last reviewed on 14 November 2026

Which KNLTB rankings are there?

KNLTB Ranking: the best men and women in the Netherlands.
KNLTB Junior Ranking: the best juniors.
KNLTB Senior Ranking: for players in the senior age categories.
KNLTB Wheelchair Tennis Ranking: for wheelchair players.

How is the KNLTB Ranking calculated?

Your place depends on your position on an international ranking (ITF, ATP or WTA) and on ranking points from National Ranking Tournaments and tournaments with category 2 events. Players from the international top are placed at the top automatically.

The ranking uses a 'best of' count: your best results count according to the points table in the KNLTB regulations.

National Ranking Tournaments and the Dutch Championships

National Ranking Tournaments are aimed at the Dutch sub-top. Only players with playing strength 1 to 4 can enter. There are several levels, such as NRT-1000 and NRT-500, each with its own conditions on playing strength and ranking position.

The Dutch Championships (NK Tennis) fall under the same regulations. Whether you are accepted depends on the acceptance rules in those regulations, including your ranking position. Always check the current year's regulations for the latest conditions.

How does the Junior Ranking work?

Juniors earn points at KNLTB Junior Tour tournaments (Bronze, Silver and Gold, with Green as a first step). Your position is based on your six best singles results and your two best doubles results.

Seniors and veterans

For players in the senior categories the KNLTB keeps a separate Senior Ranking, based on results in designated tournaments. Which tournaments count and which age category you play in is set out in the KNLTB information on senior tennis.

Not playing ranking tournaments?

For most club players the rankings do not apply. For you, your rating and playing strength are the numbers that matter: they decide your tournament seeding and your league line-up.

Working towards high-level tournaments? In the Academy we train with a focus on match development.

View the 359 Academy

Sources: KNLTB: rankings (Dutch) · KNLTB: National Ranking Tournaments (Dutch) · KNLTB: National Ranking Tournaments regulations (PDF, Dutch). KNLTB rules always take precedence.

More on the KNLTB

Overview and calculation

The difference between rating, playing strength and ranking, and how your rating is calculated.

Higher rating

How to improve your rating with smart match choices and 5 tips.

Higher playing strength

When your playing strength changes and what it means for league play and tournaments.

From the rules to a higher playing strength: the 359 development path

Rules, training, matches and your KNLTB numbers belong together. Your rating follows your development, not the other way round.

359's advice

How much should you train?: Once a week keeps your game going and makes it fun. To make noticeable progress, train twice a week. For match-focused players, three or more sessions fit an Academy programme.
With whom?: Choose a qualified coach who gives you a clear learning goal each season and makes your progress visible. A regular group at your level helps more than one-off lessons.
How many matches?: Play league matches and add a few tournaments each season, mainly in your own category. Matches you can win build confidence and rhythm.
For your child?: For children, fun and technique come before the number. Let your child go through the red, orange and green colour stages first. Official matches follow naturally.