Tennis · Guide
How tennis rankings work
Rankings are based on points from a player's best results over the last 52 weeks. Each week, the points from the same week a year earlier drop off and any new points are added.
Points for the winner
| Event | Winner's points |
|---|---|
| Grand Slam | 2,000 |
| ATP Finals / WTA Finals | up to 1,500 |
| 1000 events | 1,000 |
| 500 events | 500 |
| 250 events | 250 |
The runner-up and players who reach each round get a share, so going deep in a Slam can be worth more than winning a smaller event.
The 52-week rule
Points count for a year. So a player who won a big title last year has to "defend" those points: do as well again, or drop. That is why a player can play well and still fall a few places.
The two tours
- ATP: the men's tour and rankings.
- WTA: the women's tour and rankings.
Rankings decide seeding at tournaments, entry into the biggest events, and the year-end Finals for the top eight players.
Each player's current and highest ranking is on their player page.
Quick answers
- How do tennis rankings work?
- Players earn ranking points at tournaments, and their ranking is based on their best results over the previous 52 weeks. Points drop off a year after they were earned.
- How many ranking points is a Grand Slam worth?
- 2,000 for the winner.
- What is the difference between ATP and WTA?
- The ATP runs the men's professional tour and rankings; the WTA runs the women's.
- Why can a player drop in the rankings after winning matches?
- Because points from the same week last year come off. If they won more then than now, their total falls.