• The ranking makes it possible to evaluate the level of the players.
  • It follows a hierarchy and they are divided into 25 levels.
  • These are divided into 4 series.

If you, too, don't really understand what tennis players are referring to when talking about their ranking in conversations with friends, don't worry, this article is for you. Hopefully it will help you see more clearly.

The ranking allows to evaluate the players

As in all sports, the ranking is a good way to know the level of a player. If you decide to register for a tournament, the organizer will know how to prepare the different tables according to the level of the registered players.

Understanding the hierarchy of rankings

With 25 levels, the rankings are divided into four:

The 4th series: it is the weakest. The steps in this series, from lowest to highest, are: 40, 30/5, 30/4, 30/3, 30/2, 30/1.

Then, the third series includes six rankings: 30, 15/5, 15/4, 15/3, 15/2, 15/1.

Then, the second series is divided as follows: 15, 5/6, 4/6, 3/6, 2/6, 1/6, 0, -2/6, -4/6, -15. It is here that we find the best players in France, ranked between 100th and 31st and players ranked between 60th and 21st place.

The first series includes the top 30 French players for men and the top 20 female players.

What are "negative" rankings?

Originally, this represented a handicap that allowed to balance the competitions. Disabling, according to the various levels of each.

Low-ranked players were given an advantage in order to be able to compete against the best.

This is actually an old system of counting points, based on the ranking 0.

To better understand: if a player ranked 1/6 faced an opponent ranked 0, he started the match with one bonus point on 1 game out of 6. He started with a score of 15/0. As for a 2/6, he started a score of 15/0 on two games out of six, etc...

When it comes to players ranked negative (-2/6, -4/6, -15), it's the other way around. If we were -2/6, we started two games with a score of -15/0 against a player 0. The same goes for the -4/6, which played 4 games out of 6 with a score of -15/0.

If a player was ranked 15/1, he started 1 game with the score of 30/0 and 15/0 for the other five games and so on for the rankings 15/2, 15/3, 15/4 and 15/5. For level 30, he had 2 bonus points (30/0) on all games.


"At 23, I would already like to have a Grand Slam on my record, it would be good. And then compete for the No. 1 spot in the world."

Arthur Fils, 18 years old

(via @Eurosport_FR) pic.twitter.com/tV60uMa4sc

— We Are Tennis France (@WeAreTennisFR) May 23, 2023

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How do I calculate rankings?

The FFT proceeds in such a way as to promote accessions:

- Equal level victory: 60 points (e.g. a 30/5 beats a 30/5)

- Victory at + 1 depending on the level: 90 points (ex: a 30/5 beats a 30/4)

- Victory at + 2 according to the levels and above: 120 points (ex: a 30/5 beats a 30/3 and better)

- Victory at 1 level below: 30 points (ex: a 30/1 beats a 30/2)

- Victory at 2 levels below: 20 points (ex: a 30/1 beats a 30/3)

- Victory at 3 levels below: 15 points (ex: a 30/1 beats a 30/4)

- Victory at 4 levels below: 0 points (ex: a 30/1 beats a 30/5).

Every month, these rankings are readjusted according to the performance of the players. You can climb the ranking if you exceed the points limit (ex: to become 30/4, you need at least 70 points). On the other hand, it is impossible to go down.

Finally, for information, it is necessary to read 35 and not 30 slash 5 when we see a ranking of 30/5 for example.


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  • ATP
  • Women's tennis