A new initiative to give every Irish tennis player a grading according to ability is being pioneered by Tennis Ireland and the TSB. Under the initiative, players of similar standards will be grouped together over a range of 15 grades. With the aim of the move to make the unacceptably high percentage of one-sided competitive matches played here every year a thing of the past.

The scheme will ensure incentives for the lower-standard player and guarantee keener competition for the upper-grade player. Tennis Ireland chief executive Des Allen described the TSB Grade scheme as a quantum leap in the development of Irish tennis. "It will simply make competitive play in open tournaments and Leagues more fun for more people," he said.

Initially, clubs will provide provisional grades for all their players. Competitive results between graded players will then be taken account of in twice-yearly regrading runs - in May and September.