GAME GUIDES
Making sense of player ratings
A rating helps you read the draw. It cannot tell you the ending.
Read the season as well as the name
A card represents a particular year in a player's career. A famous name does not make every season equally strong, and a less familiar player may have an excellent year. In doubles, the partnership also matters: a card for an established pair describes that combination in that season.
In Easy mode you can compare the ratings on the five draft offers. In Hard mode those numbers are hidden. The competition works the same way in both modes; Hard asks you to make your choice with less information.
What historical results contribute
The game uses tournament-weighted Elo, a way of learning about playing strength from results. Who a player beat and the level of the event matter. A win over a strong opponent tells a different story from a win in an easier matchup. A title is part of that story, rather than a universal rating bonus.
For example, imagine two players who each win three matches. One defeats a series of established contenders at a major event; the other faces a less demanding draw. The same win count does not mean the performances provide the same evidence of strength. This is an illustrative comparison, not a promise about how any particular card will be rated.
A useful edge, not a guarantee
A stronger card will usually be better placed to win, but match form and the course of individual rallies leave room for an upset. In a World Tour season, a tired favourite faces a different challenge from a fresh one. A single loss does not prove that the displayed rating is wrong, just as a surprise title does not make the winner unbeatable.
Use ratings to make a choice
Compare cards within the discipline and role you are drafting. For a Cup team, think about your whole lineup as well as its strongest card. For a season, pick an entrant you want to follow through good weeks and setbacks. The displayed rating is a game assessment, not an official ranking or a prediction of a real match.