Women's Doubles Ranking Procedures
The Women’s ranking and seeding is based on a simple formula of points.
While this system does not always lead to perfect tournament match-ups, we all know
that there is no method that does. There are three fundamental approaches to seedings-the
subjective, the quantitative, and the combination of the two. We have opted for
the purely quantitative, merit-based approach. Draws are drawn according to the
number of points a team has earned. While there are many possible ways to determine
seeding and ranking, and they have been debated from Wimbledon to the US Open, we
have opted for a purely numeric system, eliminating second-guessing of team rankings
and placements. Here is how it works:
--- Aila Main, Chair, APTA Women's Ranking Committee
Points For Women’s National Ranking Tournaments – 2012/13
| Points Awarded |
|---|
| Place |
1 Star |
2 Star |
3 Star |
4 Star |
5 Star |
| 1st |
20 |
30 |
40 |
50 |
60 |
| 2nd |
16 |
26 |
36 |
46 |
56 |
| 3rd & 4th |
10 |
20 |
30 |
40 |
50 |
| 5th |
4 |
14 |
24 |
34 |
44 |
| 6th |
3 |
12 |
22 |
32 |
42 |
| 7th & 8th |
1.5 |
9 |
19 |
29 |
39 |
| 9th |
|
4 |
14 |
24 |
34 |
| 10th |
|
3 |
12 |
22 |
32 |
| 11th & 12th |
|
2 |
10 |
20 |
30 |
| 13th - 16th |
|
1 |
6 |
16 |
26 |
| 17th |
|
|
2 |
12 |
24 |
| 18th |
|
|
1 |
10 |
22 |
| 19th & 20th |
|
|
|
|
20 |
| 21st - 24th |
|
|
|
|
16 |
| 25th - 32nd |
|
|
|
|
10 |
| 33rd |
|
|
|
|
6 |
| 34th |
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 35th & 36th |
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 Star |
A tournament that has:
zero or one of the top 10 teams based on points earned in the 2011-2012 season,
or a new pair with more than 96 combined points.
|
| 2 Star |
A tournament that has:
2 or 3 of the top 10 teams based on points earned in the 2011-2012 season,
or a new pair with more than 96 combined points.
|
| 3 Star |
A tournament that has:
4 or 5 of the top 10 teams based on points earned in the 2011-2012 season,
or a new pair with more than 96 combined points.
|
| 4 Star |
A tournament that has:
6 or more of the top 10 teams based on points earned in the 2011-2012 season,
or a new pair with more than 96 combined points.
|
| 5 Star |
The Nationals
|
An individual who finished ranked in the top 10 during the 09/10
season or who has earned 48 points or more will be considered as a ‘half’ when
paired with someone who does not qualify her for full status. Two such players
in an event can increase the tournament value.
A team is required to play all quarterfinal and round of 16 reprieves
in order to receive points.
Seedings
A team’s seeding will be determined by the combined total of its players
individual points. Each player’s three best results are used. Points from a tournament
are valid for one year, or until the start date of the same tournament the following
season. From the Ranking Committee’s perspective, the season is divided into three
parts. The first being October to December, the second January to February, and
the third February to March. During the initial third of the season any three tournament
points may be used. During the 2nd third of the season 1 of the three
points must come from a tournament held in the 1st third of the year,
the other two from any period. During the last third of the year two tournaments
must be from the current season, and only one from the previous year may be used.
Rankings
Players are ranked as teams, with no individual standings tabulated.
Points, however, are awarded and tracked individually based on a player’s results
throughout the season, regardless of with whom they play. The platform tennis ranking
season runs from the first APTA sanctioned National Ranking Tournament (NRT) of
the year (commonly in October) through the National Championship, usually held in
March. Rankings are calculated several times a year, and a team’s progress will
be charted through Nationals, after which year-end rankings are published. At year-end
a team’s three best scores count toward their final ranking. Only a team that has
played three tournaments together qualifies for a year-end ranking, regardless of
how many points the individuals have accumulated individually. It is possible for
a player to be ranked twice with two different partners, provided they have played
the required number of tournaments together.
There is one significant exception to the above. If a player is out
for an entire year due to injury or pregnancy, the points from her previous active
season will be used in determining her seeding upon her return to active play.