The frustration around how player rankings are currently calculated on the ATP Tour is rising with Andrey Rublev becoming the second top 10 player to voice his concerns.
Earlier this week Alexander Zverev spoke out about how the system is unfair to some players and benefits others such as Roger Federer. The Swiss former world No.1 has been ranked in the world’s top 10 over the past 13 months, despite only playing two matches due to injury. During that time Zverev, who is ranked behind Federer, has won two ATP titles and reached the final of the US Open.
“I am Roger Federer’s biggest fan, but he hasn’t played in a year and is above me in the rankings. I played a Grand Slam final, a Masters final; won two tournaments; right now the system is a mess,” Zverev told reporters in Mexico.
“The ranking doesn’t really matter to me and with the system we have now … I mean, I should be in the top five, top four in the world in the normal system, but the system we have now is a bit absurd,” he added.
The ATP has made changes to the system due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect those who are unable to travel. Under the system they get to retain their points from a longer period, as well as add to them. Furthermore, Points won from events between March 4th – August 5th, 2019, which were not played in 2020, will be extended a further 52 weeks and weighted at 50%. So for example a player can count 50% of their result from the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters or 100% from this year’s Monte Carlo Masters depending on which one is better.
Zverev’s bemusement with the current situation is one that has been echoed by Russia’s Rublev who has won six ATP titles since January 2020 – two ATP 250 and tour ATP 500 tournaments. He has also reached the quarter-finals at three consecutive Grand Slams. Last season the 23-year-old won 41 matches in total which was the joint-highest on the Tour along with Novak Djokovic.
“If we would have the normal system, I would be like No 4 in the world I think. So what do you think is better for me, to be No.8 or No.4?” Rublev said following his opening win at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
“With the system that we’re having now, for me, it’s much tougher to be No 4, so here is the answer.”
The ATP has confirmed that they plan to maintain their current ranking system until the week commencing August 9th. After that it is hoped that they will revert back to the traditional method depending on the state of the pandemic and travel restrictions.
