Why ranking points fiasco will actually HELP Nick Kyrgios despite the fact his world ranking won’t change after Wimbledon final
- Wimbledon was stripped of ATP and WTA ranking points for the ’22 tournament
- The decision was made because Russian and Belarusian players were banned
- That means Nick Kyrgios’ world ranking will not change despite making final
- That could suit the Australian just fine as a top 30 ranking could hinder him
No matter whether Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios wins or loses the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, his world ranking will remain at No.40.
But that might actually play into the Australians hands and allow him to continue to be selective over which tournaments he competes in.
Wimbledon was stripped of rankings points by the ATP Tour and the WTA in May after the tournament elected to ban Russian and Belarusian tennis players because of the ongoing Ukraine war.
That means no player will receive ranking points, no matter where they finish, including Kyrgios and Djokovic.
Not gaining ranking points from Wimbledon may not be the end of the world for Kyrgios
That is set to hurt the Serbian champion the most. Even though he will draw level with Rafael Nadal on 21 grand slam wins if he beats Kyrgios, his world ranking will plummet from No.3 to No.7.
Kyrgios won’t gain anything, but he won’t lose anything either. However, if the normal ranking points were on offer, the Aussie would get a minimum of 1200 points for reaching the final.
That would consequently propel Kyrgios into the world’s top 20 players again, but that might not be the reward the Aussie is after.
While most other players would relish that position because of the marketing opportunities and grand slam seedings they would receive, Kyrgios plays tennis his own way.
Cracking the world’s top 30 means a player is obligated to take part in all grand slams along with 8 out of 9 Masters 1000 tournaments, 4 ATP 500 Tournaments and 2 ATP 250 Tournaments.
Kyrgios during a practice session with girlfriend Costeen Hatzi on day twelve of The Championships at Wimbledon 2022
Kyrgios recently opted to sit out the entire European clay court season, which a top 30 ranking might not allow him to do.
‘Clay court tennis isn’t really tennis for me,’ he said at the time.
‘It doesn’t ask for creativity at all. It’s all about fitness and who can last the longest.’
Nick and his mother Norlaila Kyrgios, who he wants to spend more time with in Australia
Kyrgios recently also said he could retire in as little as two years and wants to spend more time with family, which could result in scaling back his tennis commitments.
So the loss of rankings points could actually allow Kyrgios the chance to have his cake and eat it too.
He has the opportunity to contest a grand slam final on his preferred surface with none of the pressure that a top 30 ranking would heap on him.
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