Special ranking rules in tennis allow competitors to participate in significant tournaments following a period of absence, often caused by physical setbacks.
High-caliber players utilize them to gain entry into the main competition or qualifying rounds of major championships and other events if their ranking has decreased significantly due to their time away, preventing them from automatic qualification.
Selection for the primary bracket of major championships hinges on global rankings, typically with a threshold around the top 100. These special rankings enable players whose positions have fallen below this mark to enter the main competition directly.
However, special rankings do not guarantee a favorable seeding, meaning that players entering major championships through this avenue might encounter highly ranked opponents in the earlier stages of the competition.
Players have the option to request a special ranking from the ATP or WTA (the organizing bodies for men’s and women’s tennis, respectively) if they have been inactive from all tennis events for a minimum of six months due to a physical ailment.
Women who are returning to competitive tennis after a period of maternity leave also qualify.
In men’s tennis, a special ranking is determined by calculating the player’s average ranking over the three months following their injury. This ranking can be used for the initial nine tournaments or months following their return – whichever transpires first. However, if the player is sidelined for more than a year, this duration extends to 12 tournaments/months.
In women’s tennis, the ranking remains consistent with what it was at the time of the injury. This ranking is applicable for eight tournaments within a single season, or 12 tournaments if they are absent for more than one year.
This piece originates from the BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything segment.
