Is it my imagination, or are an increasing number of players entering tournaments with a ‘Protected (or Special) Ranking (PR/SR)’? Maybe I am just more aware of them now, but especially around the time of Grand Slam entries, it does seem that more and more players are reappearing following a period of absence, in some instances, after an absence of a few years!
A protected ranking in tennis allows players returning from long-term injury, and maternity/fertility leave, to re enter tournaments using a higher, past ranking. This helps them avoid a drastic ranking drop due to inactivity. Without a PR a player injured for a few months for example, would see their ranking drop considerably, making it almost impossible for them to enter high level tournaments upon their return, even if they were a top ranked player before their absence. Protected rankings therefore serve to bridge this gap and support a players’ comeback. A most notable example of this is Belinda Bencic, who returned last year to high level tennis after the birth of her daughter. She used her PR to get into some of the higher level events and then she performed in a remarkable way and is now back where she was before she went on maternity leave.
Certain ‘rules’ exist in relation to PRs. For example, players must miss/have missed at least 6 months of competition due to injury, military service, or maternity reasons (10 weeks for specific fertility procedures), and they must apply for the PR within 6 months of their last event. Their ranking is frozen at the position they were at at the time of injury/absence (WTA), or the average ranking over the first 3 months after the last event played (ATP).
The PR can be used for entry into main draws or qualifying events but it cannot be used for seeding purposes, so even if a player enters with a PR that would ordinarily make them qualify to be a seed, they will not be as their ranking is a protected one.
At the time of writing this blog, a PR is valid for a limited number of tournaments. On the WTA tour, the PR can be used for a maximum of 2 (different) Grand Slam entries; 8 tournaments, if the absence has been for 6-12 months; or 12, if the absence has been for more than a year. The player has 3 years to activate her PR ie it has to be activated within 3 years of her last match or it will be lost (except in specific circumstances such as a recurrent injury or maternity leave for multiple births). Once activated the player has 12 months to utilise her PR allocation, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as reoccurrence of the injury.
On the ATP tour, a PR can be used for up to 4 Grand Slam entries and the player can use it at 9 tournaments if the absence has been between 6 and 12 months. 12 PR entries are permitted if the absence has been greater than 12 months. I am unsure as to why there is a difference between the ATP and WTA tours but as with many other things, a difference there is! Another reason why one governing body (as opposed to 2 or 3 if you include the ITF) would be beneficial, but that’s a debate for another day!
How does a player apply for a PR? A player needs to prove the need for a PR by writing a formal written petition to the ATP/WTA, supported by detailed, independent medical documentation. This evidence must verify that the player has been unable to compete in any tennis events (including exhibitions) for a minimum of 6 consecutive months. Each petition is then evaluated by the Medical Services Committee (ATP) to confirm it meets the criteria for injury/illness. For the WTA, players must submit a WTA Medical Information Form which has been completed by an accredited physician.
So what do we think of the PR rules? Well for starters, I personally think the number of PRs a player can have should be equal for men and women. Makes sense? Secondly, I think PRs should be monitored closely to avoid possible abuse of the system. Some of the comments I have seen online recently suggest that the PR system can unfairly impact the lower- ranked players, despite the fact that it is designed as a safety system for injured players. This goes back to what I said in the first paragraph of this blog, questioning why it is that there seem to be more PRs used at the time of the big ticket events, where some players seem to enter for the prize money but then don’t follow up their appearance with entries in subsequent tournaments i.e. are some players using the PR system simply to collect the cash? There was one player who used a PR to gain entry into the women’s doubles event at the Australian Open this year. Prior to this she had not played a tour event since late 2022. I have to assume she had been absent on multiple maternity leaves but it is tough for the players on the alternate list who have been grinding it out on the tour for months on end but who didn’t get into this prestigious event because of a PR that has been in place for over 3 and a half years. Possibly time for a re think or at least the addition of a revised time limit after which players cannot no longer use their PR?
All this aside however, the PR system is a godsend to women who want to pause their playing careers to have a family. Without such a system players like Bencic would have to make a huge choice of career or children – not a decision any women should have to make. It is also a life saver to top level players who suffer a chronic injury whilst at the top of their game. Without the PR system their careers could be cut short or drastically damaged.
Finally, for those who might be tempted to ask, paternity leave can be negotiated but personally, I am unaware of any male player who has taken this up. Maybe Casper Ruud will consider it after the birth of his first child this week?
#realitytennis
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