Unlocking Tennis Rankings: How Points Shape Player Standings at Wimbledon and Beyond
Discover how tennis rankings work, the impact of tournament points on player standings, and unique insights from Wimbledon 2025.



Understanding Tennis Rankings
Tennis rankings are crucial for determining player standings and tournament seedings. Both the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women's Tennis Association) rankings are based on a rolling 52-week cumulative process. Players earn points through their performance in various tournaments, with higher-ranked events offering more points.
Men's Rankings (ATP)
- Maximum of 20 tournaments count towards a player's ranking.
- Includes the four Grand Slams, the ATP Finals, and eight mandatory ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
- Additionally, the seven best performances from lower-ranked tournaments, including non-mandatory ATP Masters 1000 events, ATP 500 series, and ATP 250 series, are considered.
- Players not qualifying for the ATP Finals count 19 tournaments.
Women's Rankings (WTA)
- Maximum of 18 tournaments count towards a player's ranking.
- Includes the four Grand Slams, the WTA Finals, and six mandatory WTA 1000 combined tournaments.
- Additionally, the seven best performances from other events are considered.
- Players not qualifying for the WTA Finals count 17 tournaments.
Points Accumulation
- Points are earned based on wins and progression through tournaments.
- Higher-ranked events offer more points.
- Opponent rankings generally do not factor into points, except in the United Cup.
Player Insights
- Jannik Sinner is currently the No. 1 men's player in the world.
- Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men's Wimbledon champion, does not practice sliding on grass to avoid muscle injuries.
Wimbledon Records
- The longest men's singles final at Wimbledon was in 2019 between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, lasting 4 hours and 57 minutes.
- The longest women's singles final was in 2005 between Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport, lasting 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Player Habits
- Players often keep balls in their pockets for rhythm and comfort, as noted by Flavio Cobolli and Mirra Andreeva.
- Ben Shelton mentioned that selecting balls at the start of service takes time, and having a ball readily available helps maintain rhythm.
Post-Match Interactions
- Players like Aryna Sabalenka often congratulate each other at the net, acknowledging the intensity of the match.
- Alfie Hewett finds the post-match handshake awkward, especially when trying to balance compliments and sportsmanship.
Wimbledon Court Start Times
- Centre Court and Court One start later to maximize spectator experience and allow time for exploring the grounds and traditions like strawberries and cream.
This article provides a comprehensive look at how tennis rankings work, the significance of tournament points, and unique insights from Wimbledon 2025.