ATP new ranking system Q&A in full

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to the FedEx ATP Rankings have been made to preserve the principles of merit, fairness and mobility in an attempt to apply a similar approach to the normal ATP Rankings.

The Rankings will be updated on the Monday after the first week of competition once the Tour resumes. This will be the first time the Rankings are released since 16 March, when they were frozen due to the suspension of the ATP Tour.

Below is a list of questions and answers relating to the Rankings changes.
(Note: The term Tour-level events used in the FAQ includes Grand Slams and ATP Tour tournaments.)

Why make these changes now?

Due to the uncertainty of the calendar through 2020 as a result of COVID-19, points from the 16 March 2020 frozen Rankings will not drop in 2020 unless they are replaced by a better result. Additionally, this will provide stability to players who may not feel comfortable travelling and competing due to the pandemic.

How will players be affected by the Rankings changes?

For the remainder of 2020, no player will have fewer points than he currently has in his frozen ranking. But players can improve their points total by playing after the Tour’s resumption and achieving results that are strong enough to be included in their countable results (“Best 18”).   

When will the FedEx ATP Rankings be run for the first time since being frozen on 16 March?

The Rankings will be updated on the Monday after the first week of competition once the Tour resumes.

Which Ranking will be used for seeding when the Tour resumes?

The 16 March Rankings will be used for seeding for the first two (2) weeks of competition. Thereafter, players will be seeded based on the latest FedEx ATP Rankings. Based on a return to competition as the provisional calendar states, the US Open will use the first published Rankings (24 August).

How will 2020 events played after the Tour resumption count toward a player’s ranking?

Players can use the best result from 2019 or 2020 from the same Tour-level event (if played after the Tour resumption).  If a player’s 2019 result is better than his 2020 result, his 2020 result will not be included in his ranking breakdown.

How will 2020 ATP Challenger Tour /ITF World Tennis Tour events played after the Tour resumption count toward a player’s ranking?

Any points obtained at ATP Challenger Tour/ITF World Tennis Tour events upon Tour resumption will be considered among a player’s ‘Best of Other Countable’ results. A result obtained in 2020 that is not better than his lowest ‘Best of Other Countable’ results will be included in the Non-Countable results on his ranking breakdown.

If a player has the same result from both the 2019 and 2020 Tour-level event, which year will be counted in his Ranking?

If a player earns the same result in both 2019 and 2020 at the same Tour-level event, he will keep his 2019 result and not count the 2020 result. An improved result in 2020 will be considered among his ‘Best of Other Countable’ results and will only improve a player’s points total if the 2020 result is better than his lowest ‘Best of Other Countable’ result.

What happens if a player earns the same or fewer points in 2020 than 2019 at the same Tour-level event?

The 2020 result will not count. The player will keep his 2019 result (which stays as a mandatory result if the event was a mandatory 2019 tournament). This ensures rankings integrity as a player cannot improve his ranking by losing early in the same round as 2019.

Can a player count 2019 points and 2020 points from the same Tour-level event in his ranking breakdown?

No, a player may only count each Tour-level event once.

How will points at the Tour level be replaced/dropped from the Tour resumption until end of 2020?

After the Tour resumption through the end of 2020, a player will replace Tour-level points from the same event only if his 2020 result is better than his 2019 result. If a player competes at an event in 2020 that he did not contest in 2019, points earned at that event must exceed the points of his lowest countable result to displace that lowest countable result from his ‘Best of Other Countable’ total.  
In 2021, points will drop based on their standard scheduled drop date when the Tour-level event is played.

How will qualifications be handled for the Nitto ATP Finals?

Historically, the FedEx ATP Rankings have served as the official determinant for singles qualifications into ATP’s season-ending event, and this will continue to be the case. Due to the Tour suspension, the FedEx ATP Race To London this year will not accurately reflect which players are likely to qualify. For that reason, ATP will not promote the Race this year. The Race to Milan will also not be promoted since it will follow a similar approach to the Nitto ATP Finals qualification.
The FedEx ATP Rankings run on 9 November will be used for Nitto ATP Finals singles qualification. The FedEx ATP Doubles Team Rankings, reflecting only results earned by teams in 2020 prior to 9 November, will be used for Nitto ATP Finals doubles qualification.

Will points from the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals be extended into 2021?

No. Points earned at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals will drop 9 November, 2020 after the Rolex Paris Masters. As per existing ATP Tour rules, 2019 Nitto ATP Finals points will not count for qualification into the Nitto ATP Finals in 2020.

Why is the Nitto ATP Finals drop date not extended 52 weeks?

The Nitto ATP Finals is an extra event in a player’s Rankings breakdown and not part of the “Best 18” results. Points from the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals will drop as per its normal process on 9 November after the 2020 Rolex Paris Masters. This ensures that players who did not qualify for last year’s season finale have the same opportunity to qualify this year as do the players who competed in London in 2019.

Will drop dates be extended for events that took place prior to the Tour’s suspension? 

Provided that the calendar resumes as normal in 2021, drop dates for events played early in 2020 (6 January-9 March) will not change. Except for the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, all other drop dates for events that were not played in 2020 will be extended for another 52 weeks.

How long will Tour events played after the Tour resumes stay on the Rankings?

2020 Tour events after resumption will stay on the Rankings for 52 weeks OR until the event is played again in 2021, whichever comes first. Any events played in 2021 will stay on for 52 weeks as standard.

How long will ATP Challenger/ITF World Tennis Tour events after Tour resumption stay on the Rankings?

ATP Challenger Tour/ITF World Tennis Tour events played after the Tour resumes will stay on the Rankings for 52 weeks.

Why are ATP Challenger Tour/ITF World Tennis Tour events being added differently than Tour-level events?

ATP Challenger Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour events are scheduled on a one-year basis and do not have consistent spots in the calendar. Therefore, all results from these events will be added to a player’s Rankings breakdown. However, results will only improve a player’s “Best 18” points total if better than a player’s lowest ‘Best of Other Countable’ result.

Will events played in 2020 after the suspension be considered mandatory?

No.

Will mandatory events that were originally scheduled to drop during the Tour’s suspension be considered mandatory for rankings purposes?

All events that were considered mandatory on the 16 March Ranking will remain mandatory if they are not replaced by a player’s 2020 result.

How will zero-point ranking penalties given in 2019 be handled?

Only if a player plays the same event in 2020 will a player’s 2019 zero-point ranking penalty be removed.

What happens if a player plays the 2020 edition of a Tour-level event and did not play that same event in 2019?

The 2020 result will be considered part of the player’s ‘Best of Other Countable’ results on the player’s Rankings breakdown.

Why is the US Open doubles points breakdown the same as an ATP Masters 1000 points breakdown?

The Masters 1000 doubles points breakdown will be used at the 2020 US Open doubles based on a reduced 32-draw size (the same as a Masters 1000).
  
How will entries for ATP Cup work?

The FedEx ATP Rankings run on 14 September 2020 will be used for the first entry deadline and the Rankings run on 16 November 2020 will be used for the second entry deadline.