Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic dudded in 'ludicrous' Wimbledon farce
The decision from the ATP and WTA tours to strip Wimbledon of rankings points has been felt hardest by the likes of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios.
The governing bodies of the men's and women's tours announced earlier this year that players wouldn't receive any rankings points at Wimbledon in a move directly in response to the All England Club's decision to ban players from Russia and Belarus.
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The ATP and WTA said they didn't agree with the decision by Wimbledon officials and stripped the event of rankings points as a result, subsequently turning the grass-court grand slam into a high-profile exhibition.
To make matters worse, the ATP and WTA didn't freeze the rankings - denying players the chance to defend the points they earned at Wimbledon in 2021.
The contentious decision has now robbed Kyrgios of a deserved return to the world's top-20, while Djokovic will continue to slide down the rankings despite winning the prestigious title.
Because Djokovic won Wimbledon in 2021, he will lose all 2000 rankings points he earned there last year.
Kyrgios will also miss out on 1200 rankings points for making the final and will fall to World No.45 as a result.
The 27-year-old would have been projected to rise to No.13 in the world if he won Wimbledon, which coincidentally is his career-high ranking - first achieved in late 2016.
Despite missing out on the title, he would have climbed from No.40 to inside the top-20, but will now fall five places in the rankings.
"I don't particularly play in tournaments for ranking points," Kyrgios said on Saturday before the final.
"As a kid, when I watched Wimbledon, when I wanted to play it, I wasn't thinking about ranking points.
"I was thinking about playing in the most prestigious tournament in the world. That's all I'm here for."
Tennis world up in arms over 'ludicrous' Wimbledon farce
As for Djokovic, the Serbian star is facing the ridiculous prospect of falling from World No.3 to No.7 after winning Wimbledon.
He will lose all 2000 rankings points he earned when he lifted the trophy at the All England Club in 2021.
“Novak Djokovic could win Wimbledon on Sunday and drop from No.3 to No.7 in the world rankings. Madness,” tennis writer Stuart Fraser tweeted on Saturday.
“I mean, the ATP really have shafted themselves with this ludicrous decision. Nick Kyrgios would be a great (and arguably a much-needed) addition to the ATP Finals field but he’ll remain at No.37 in the Race to Turin after this fortnight."
British tennis player Jonny O’Mara previously described it as “f***ing madness”.
I mean, the ATP really have shafted themselves with this ludicrous decision. Nick Kyrgios would be a great (and arguably a much-needed) addition to the ATP Finals field but he'll remain at No 37 in the Race to Turin after this fortnight.
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) July 8, 2022
Would have been interesting if Wimbledon had ranking points this year.
Nick Kyrgios would jump into the top 20, the final giving him at least 1200 points.
But being higher in the rankings would have come with more tournaments, so this probably suits NK better. #Wimbledon— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 8, 2022
Congrats to Novak Djokovic on his 7th Wimbledon title, his 21st Grand Slam title and...a 3,000+ point deficit to World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev when the ATP singles rankings update tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/hxeV1QzDkQ
— Eashan Ghosh (@eashanghosh) July 10, 2022
Because the ATP made a horrible decision that screws their own players
— Patrick (@dev1_patrick) July 8, 2022
Ons Jabeur, who made the Wimbledon ladies final but will drop from No.2 to No.5, said it was unfair on players who chose to compete.
“I’m not going to lie to you. The more you do good, the more you regret not getting any points,” she said.
“I don’t just look at myself, but I also look at Tatjana (Maria). Now she makes a good run, and she doesn’t have points.”
Elena Rybakina, who beat Jabeur in the final, would have jumped 17 places in the WTA rankings.
How is it that Jabeur just ended up finalist at Wimbledon only to drop 3 places in the rankings? Absolutely shocking
— David Parkes (@dpnina10) July 10, 2022
So I wasted time and made rankings for if there were normal Wimbledon points! Some theoretical big jumps:
Rybakina (+17) to #6
Halep (+8) to #10
Maria (+69) to #34
Garcia (+17) to #38
Bouzkova (+27) to #39
Niemeier (+37) to #60
Tan (+31) to #84
Watson (+32) to #89 pic.twitter.com/CYghysO6Xz— mason (@mjtennis11) July 9, 2022
On the plus side for Kyrgios, remaining outside the top-20 means he can continue to pick and choose which tournaments he plays going forward.
"I'm still travelling four or five months of the year. But I've sat down and I'm never going to travel more than that," he said.
"I just don't want to sacrifice family time or time at home. I don't want to be that person that's playing so much tennis during the year and not cherishing those times at home.
"After a result like this, win or lose, I want to have that crucial time at home to enjoy it with my loved ones.
"I've played this sport since I was seven years old. These are the times where I feel like you just want to sit and enjoy it. We made it this far.
"I'm not saying to get complacent or anything like that. I still have tournaments after this as well. The US swing, obviously.
"After that, I just want to have time where I can reflect and say it's been a good couple months, then recharge and then go again."
with AAP
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