With Wimbledon, the crown jewel of the British tennis calendar, just around the corner, a common question ahead of major tournaments is how tennis’ intricate ranking system works.
From the rise of a new British talent to the steady presence of established stars like Cameron Norrie and the legendary Andy Murray, their journey up the rankings is always a hot topic.
Often headlined by the very best in the world – think Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and of course, our British stars – their consistent performances on the court are directly reflected in their ranking positions.
Rankings are truly the ultimate measure of how good a player or doubles pair is on the court and their current form.
A climb in the rankings can mean immediate entry into major tournaments, avoiding qualification rounds, and better seeding at events, which can significantly impact their draw.
But how exactly are these tennis rankings determined? And is the process any different for men’s and women’s tennis players? TennisHead has all the details.
The history behind the tennis rankings
Before the 1970s, tennis rankings were often subjective, assembled by journalists or national federations, leading to inconsistencies. The modern, objective system emerged from the professional Open Era.
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), formed in 1972, introduced its first official men’s singles rankings on August 23, 1973, with Ilie Năstase as the inaugural World No. 1.
This move was vital for players, standardising tournament entry and seeding. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) followed suit in November 1975.
Originally, both systems calculated rankings based on averaging players’ results. However, this evolved in 1990 to the current “best of” system, where points from a player’s top tournaments over a rolling 52-week period are counted.
Grand Slams award the most points, reflecting their importance. This evolution ensures rankings accurately represent a player’s form and influence draws and tournament qualification globally.
ATP Rankings – Men’s Singles and Doubles
The ATP Rankings are the Association of Tennis Professionals’ system for ranking male tennis players in both singles and doubles worldwide.
Updated weekly, they reflect a player’s performance over the preceding 52 weeks.
For singles, a player’s ranking is based on their best 19 tournament results within that year-long period. This typically includes the four Grand Slams (worth 2000 points to the winner), eight mandatory ATP Masters 1000 events (1000 points), and their top seven results from other tournaments like ATP 500s, ATP 250s, or Challengers.
If a player qualifies, the year-end ATP Finals is an additional 20th event.
Doubles rankings also count a player’s best 19 results over the 52-week rolling period.
Points are awarded based on a tournament’s prestige and how far a player or team advances.
These rankings are vital for determining tournament entry and player seeding, directly shaping their path through events.
Breakdown of ATP Ranking Grand Slam points
The Grand Slams – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open – are the most prestigious tournaments on the ATP Tour, and as such, they offer the highest number of ranking points. These events are crucial for a player’s overall ranking and their path to the top of the sport.
Here’s a breakdown of the ATP ranking points awarded for singles at Grand Slams:
- Winner: 2000 points
- Runner-up: 1300 points
- Semi-finals: 800 points
- Quarter-finals: 400 points
- Round of 16 (Fourth Round): 200 points
- Round of 32 (Third Round): 100 points
- Round of 64 (Second Round): 50 points
- Round of 128 (First Round): 10 points
- Qualifiers: Players who successfully navigate the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw also earn points.
WTA Rankings – Women’s Singles and Doubles
The WTA Rankings are the Women’s Tennis Association’s system for ranking female tennis players in both singles and doubles, updated weekly.
Very much like the men’s, they follow a similar structure being a rolling 52-week, cumulative system based on points earned from tournament performance.
For singles, a player’s ranking is determined by her best 16 tournament results over that year-long period. This must include points from all four Grand Slams and generally four mandatory WTA 1000 tournaments (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing).
The WTA Finals can also count as an additional, 17th tournament if a player qualifies.
Doubles rankings are based on a player’s best 12 results within the 52 weeks. Points are awarded according to tournament prestige (Grand Slams, WTA 1000, 500, 250 events) and round reached.
These rankings are key for determining player eligibility for tournaments and their seeding, which greatly influences their path through draws.
Breakdown of the WTA Ranking Grand Slam points
The four Grand Slams are vital for WTA players seeking to maximise their ranking points due to the significant rewards they offer. These tournaments are mandatory components of a player’s ranking calculation.
Here’s a breakdown of the WTA ranking points awarded for singles at Grand Slams:
- Winner: 2000 points
- Runner-up: 1300 points
- Semi-finals: 780 points
- Quarter-finals: 430 points
- Round of 16 (Fourth Round): 240 points
- Round of 32 (Third Round): 130 points
- Round of 64 (Second Round): 70 points
- Round of 128 (First Round): 10 points
- Qualifiers: Players successfully navigating qualifying rounds also earn points
