The ATP announced plans on Thursday to revise its ranking system, focus more on Masters 1000 events, and increase player bonuses starting in 2028. Currently, players derive their rankings from their top results in 19 regular-season tournaments and the ATP Finals, provided they qualify. Under the existing framework, players can substitute up to three weaker results from mandatory 1000-level events with better results from lower-tier tournaments.
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The ATP aims to eliminate this option, ensuring that all points from Masters tournaments contribute fully to a player’s ranking. According to a Q&A posted on its website, this change addresses the pressure players feel to compete in additional tournaments after an early loss to compensate for ranking points. The ATP noted that this could lead to burnout, as seen with top players like world number one Jannik Sinner, who has not competed since winning Wimbledon in July due to a knee injury, and seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, who also missed significant time due to injuries.
The ATP recognized that players who advance further in major tournaments face increased demands and that the current system complicates recovery time. In response, the organization is considering adjustments to weight ranking points more favorably for players who perform well in tournaments and is also reviewing the number of ATP 250 results counted for top players' rankings.
In light of recent critiques about insufficient prize money, particularly from Sinner at the French Open and Wimbledon, the ATP is set to significantly increase bonuses and pension contributions. By 2028, players ranked in the top 250 will share a year-end rankings bonus totaling $25 million, and the bonus pool for top players at 1000 events is expected to rise from $21.5 million to $50 million. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi stated that these initiatives would boost the governing body's annual investment in player compensation and support to over $100 million from 2028.
The ATP also plans to continue reforming the doubles game, despite opposition from doubles specialists, by reducing the size of doubles draws and reallocating prize money toward early rounds and qualifiers in singles tournaments.