The Truth About Tennis Rankings & UTR’s Impact | Courtside Sessions S3 E3 - Mark Leschly

Inside the World of UTR Sports with CEO Mark Leschly 🎾

In this episode of Courtside Sessions, we sit down with Mark Leschly, the principal owner and CEO of UTR Sports, to discuss the impact of the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) on the world of tennis. From his junior playing days in Denmark to competing at Harvard and on the ATP Tour, Mark shares his personal journey through tennis and how it ultimately led him to revolutionize the sport with UTR.

🔍 What You'll Learn in This Episode:
The history and evolution of UTR – Why it's the most accurate and widely-used tennis rating system
How UTR compares to other ranking systems like ITF, USTA, and World Tennis Number
The role of data science and analytics in UTR’s success
The expansion of UTR into pickleball and its impact on the growing sport
The rise of junior tennis players competing in both tennis and pickleball
Mark’s personal tennis career, from playing at Harvard to competing on the ATP Tour and Danish Davis Cup team

🎾 Why UTR Matters for Players, Coaches, and Parents
Whether you're a junior player looking to get recruited, a college coach scouting talent, or a recreational player wanting competitive matches, UTR has transformed how the sport operates by making matchplay more accessible, fair, and level-based across age and gender.

📈 UTR & The Future of Pickleball
Beyond tennis, UTR has also stepped into the world of pickleball, partnering with APP and USA Pickleball to develop the most advanced pickleball rating and ranking system. Mark discusses the similarities, differences, and growing overlap between the two sports, including the rise of junior pickleball players and the development of pickleball-specific clubs and tournaments.