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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Men’s governing body ATP on Monday 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 the ATP rankings operates on a formula of 18 best results over 52 weeks but will now cover a 22-month period from March 2019 through December 2020.

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While the new model provides impetus for players to improve results from their 2019 performance, it will also provide stability to those who choose not to play due to the pandemic as they would not need to defend points.

The ATP’s rejigged 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 Serb will be favorite to keep his number one ranking at the end of year as he retains the points he earned from his 2019 Wimbledon win till 2021 with the grass court Grand Slam cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020.

Djokovic will also keep points from his Madrid and Paris Masters wins even if he decides to skip the events in 2020 or fares badly in them.

He could also strengthen his position at the top of the rankings by improving on his fourth round exit at the US Open and defeats in the semi-finals of the French Open and the Cincinnati Masters.

Rafa Nadal, world number two

The Spaniard had to previously defend more than 5,000 points over six weeks, having won the Grand Slams in New York and Paris in 2019 and also the Rome Masters. But he will now get to keep all those points even if he does not hit a ball.


*Reuters