As we enter the second-to-last month of the 2026 Manhattan Ladder season, it feels like a good moment to pause, look at the numbers, and appreciate the slightly improbable scale of what has been built.
What began as a single Advanced Division has become a four-division, 331-player tennis ecosystem—one that now stretches across Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and whichever public court happens to have an opening at a reasonable hour.
A little history
The previous completed seasons of the Advanced Division recorded:
- 2023: 108 matches
- 2024: 122 matches
- 2025: 194 matches
This year, with four divisions in play, the Ladder has already surpassed every previous season combined in both activity and reach.
2026 matches to date
- A Division: 110 matches
- B Division: 81 matches
- C Division: 144 matches
- D Division: 116 matches
Total: 451 matches
That is 451 actual tennis matches arranged, negotiated, rescheduled, occasionally rain-affected, and completed by players who have made the effort to get on court.
The 2026 Ladder currently includes:
- A Division: 68 players
- B Division: 62 players
- C Division: 108 players
- D Division: 93 players
Total: 331 players
Matches are being played across Central Park, Brian Watkins, Pier 42, Stadium Tennis Center in the South Bronx, Astoria Park, and elsewhere throughout the city. Hudson River Park remains an option too, for players prepared to treat court availability as a test of character.
And yes: the photo in our Hudson River Park court listing was taken just before the courts reopened after resurfacing in May 2023.
The race at the top
The divisions remain very much alive. As of August 11, the current top three players are:
- A Division: Stefan Szanto, Michael Guth, Alex Weisshuhn Araujo
- B Division: Alexander Reiley, Zahra Poonevala, Anthony Palmaro
- C Division: Yahya Khan, Jimmy Freeman, Maxime Van Melkebeke
- D Division: Jagnoor Singh, Robert Mack, Kyle Huang
The players who have spent the most time at No. 1 this season are:
- Alexander Reiley: 85 days
- Jagnoor Singh: 82 days
- Jimmy Freeman: 46 days
- Yahya Khan: 41 days
You can view current standings and player records on the Manhattan Ladder.
Playoff qualification: what matters now
September 30 is the cutoff for playoff eligibility.
The top 16 eligible players in each division who have completed at least 10 matches will qualify for the Round of 16. For this calculation, forfeits do not count as completed matches.
This means ranking matters, but it is not the only thing that matters. A player ranked No. 20 on September 30 may still qualify if players above them have not completed the required 10 matches.
The basic principle remains pleasingly uncomplicated: play tennis, complete your matches, and be rewarded for the effort.
The Round of 16 will take place over the first three weeks of October, with flexible scheduling and locations. Players will play one match per week. Three consecutive wins will earn a place in the Division Final on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The Finals will include certified chair umpires, trophy presentations, cash prizes, and sponsored awards.
There is still time to play, climb, qualify, and make a run at the postseason.
This is already the biggest and most active season in Manhattan Ladder history. That is entirely because of the players who keep responding to challenges, finding courts, carrying balls, and showing up.
Keep playing.
Statistics are based on reports from August 11, 2026. Figures for 2023–2025 reflect the historical Advanced Division; the 2026 figure combines the A, B, C, and D Divisions.