Tsitsipas yes, Zverev no - Dear ATP, please explain that to us!
The ATP ranking of the end of the year raises a few questions on closer inspection. What is now included in the rating and what is not?
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 24, 2020, 08:29 pm
Yes, there are absolute first-world problems that move us at this point, but where, if not on a tennis side, should you be able to roll over them? So the following: It is completely clear to us that Novak Djokovic was the best player in the world in the accounting period for the current world rankings, which have now been cemented for a few weeks, followed by Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem . Hook on it.
It even becomes clear to us what this accounting period includes, namely all points earned from Indian Wells 2019, whereby each tournament counts only once in the rating, and always with the better outcome: Nadal won the US Open in 2019 , waived this year, but retains the 2,000 points from the previous year. Got it. Not only Sascha Zverev thinks that this regulation is now also applied to the ATP Finals, but allegedly the majority of the players have spoken out in favor of it.
Tsitsipas without the US Open, Zverev with Rome
But now it's getting exciting (at least for us nerds): If you look at Stefanos Tsitsipas's Rankings Breakdown, then the points for the US Open are missing. An absolutely compulsory tournament. But apparently not for Stefanos this year. The 90 points for reaching the third round, in which Tsitsipas lost against Borna Coric despite several match points, are listed in the “Non Countable” category. For this, 250 points for the victory in Estoril 2019 will continue to be carried.
Well. One could argue that the 18 best results appear in the ranking. But that's not even true with Stefanos Tsitsipas: Because then the 10 points for Wimbledon 2019 would have to be replaced, for example by the 90 from the US Open.
Alexander Zverev, on the other hand, carries 10 points from Rome 2019, which he could not "defend" this year and rather improve because he was busy in New York City until just before the tournament began. Zverev could at least bring in 80 more points if Rome were replaced by the round of 16 in Monte Carlo.
So what now, dear ATP: Why is the US Open not a compulsory tournament for Stefanos Tsitsipas in terms of ranking? And why Rome for Alexander Zverev? Because remember: First World Problems also want to be solved.