MUMBAI: The men’s governing body’s ATP on Monday (July 7) unveiled a revised system for calculating world rankings when the season resumes in August following a five-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Traditionally ATP rankings operate on a formula of 18 best results for 52 weeks, but will now cover a 22-month period from March 2019 to December 2020.
While the new model provides impetus for players to improve their 2019 performance results, it will also provide stability for those who choose not to play because of the pandemic as they would not need to defend the points.
The renewed ATP calendar for the year includes two Grand Slam events in the US Open and the French Open and three Masters 1000 events.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC, WORLD NUMBER ONE
The Serbian will be the favorite to maintain his number one position at the end of the year as he retains the points earned since his 2019 Wimbledon victory until 2021 with the budding Grand Slam canceled due to the pandemic in 2020.
Djokovic will also keep the points of his victories in Madrid and Paris, even if he decides to skip events in 2020 or have the wrong rates.
He could also strengthen his position at the top of the classification by improving his exit in the fourth round at the US Open and defeats in the semi-finals of the French Open and the Masters of Cincinnati.
RAFA NADAL, WORLD NUMBER TWO
The Spaniard previously had to defend more than 5,000 points in six weeks, after winning the Grand Slams in New York and Paris in 2019 and also the Rome Masters. But now he will be able to keep all those points even if he doesn’t hit a ball.
Spaniard Rafa Nadal celebrates victory against American John Isner in the first round of the French Open at the Roland Garros in Paris. (Photo: REUTERS / Regis Duvignau)
If Nadal decides to travel to the United States for the hardcourt season, he will have the opportunity to collect points from the Cincinnati Masters after missing the event in 2019.
THIEM DOMINICO, WORLD NUMBER THREE
Thiem will retain the points earned from his appearance in last year’s French Open final and his semifinal at the Madrid Masters.
Austrian Dominic Thiem after the game against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. (Photo: REUTERS / Marko Djurica)
The Austrian will also have the opportunity to improve his first round at the US Open and early loss in Rome.
ROGER FEDERER, WORLD NUMBER FOUR
The biggest gain from the revised rankings will be Federer, with the Swiss self-destructing from the rest of the season after undergoing a second knee surgery during the year.
The Swiss Roger Federer seems downed after his match against Serbian Novak Djokovic. (Photo: REUTERS / Kai Pfaffenbach)
The 20-time Grand Slam winner hasn’t played since Djokovic’s semi-final defeat at the Australian Open and would have been able to maintain most of the 2019 points he otherwise would have lost under normal circumstances.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV, WORLD NUMBER FIVE
The Russian has the opportunity to make significant gains in the rest of the year, having lost in the first round at the Masters in Madrid and Rome and also the French Open in Paris.
Russian Daniil Medvedev leaves the pitch after losing the game against Swiss Stan Wawrinka. (Photo: REUTERS / Issei Kato)
If the results don’t go the right way, Medvedev will still have the cushion of the significant points earned by winning the Cincinnati Masters and reaching the US Open final in 2019.
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