THE TOP 32 players by ranking receive seeds at Grand Slams, and the whole system is built around one goal: keeping the best players apart until the later rounds. The top two seeds go into opposite halves of the draw, meaning they can only meet in the final. But before a player earns that protection, they must accumulate the points to deserve it. This year’s top seeds are all in the Wimbledon 2026 betting odds, so let’s take a look at how players earn those rankings.
How rankings are calculated
Both the ATP (men’s) and WTA (women’s) tours calculate rankings on a rolling 52-week basis, counting a player’s best results across 18 tournaments. Points are awarded based on how far a player progresses and the size of the event.
A Grand Slam title earns 2,000 points on the ATP Tour. A Masters 1000 win is worth 1,000 points, while ATP 500 and ATP 250 titles carry 500 and 250 points, respectively. Rankings update every Monday.
One important feature of the system is that major events are mandatory for eligible players. Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events must be counted in a player’s total, whether they compete or not. A top player who withdraws from a Masters 1000 takes zero points for that event rather than being excluded from the calculation.
How seeds are assigned
At Grand Slams, seeds are based on the rankings published approximately 42 days before the tournament starts. Up to 32 players are seeded in a 128-player draw, with a minimum of 16.
The top two seeds are placed in opposite halves, seeds three and four are drawn into the two semi-final quarters, and seeds five through eight are spread across the draw from there. If a top seed withdraws, the next player steps into their slot, with seed 17 moving up to fill the vacated position.
What is a protected ranking?
When a player misses a long stretch of competition, their ranking drops as points expire without being replaced, which often has a direct impact on the tennis betting odds. Both tours have a system to limit that damage.
The ATP’s entry protection requires a player to have been out for at least six months through injury or illness. The protected ranking is calculated from the player’s average position during the first three months after their last event. They can use it to enter up to nine tournaments or for nine months from their return, whichever comes first. It gets a player into draws, but cannot be used for seeding.
The WTA runs a similar system called the Special Ranking. A player must have been ranked inside the top 750 and absent for at least 26 consecutive weeks. Depending on the length of the absence, they can use it to enter up to 12 tournaments, including up to two Grand Slams.
The new fertility treatment rule
For years, female tennis players who wanted to freeze their eggs or embryos faced a difficult calculation. Peak fertility often coincides with peak athletic performance, and taking time away for treatment risked watching a hard-earned ranking fall during recovery. The WTA addressed that in June 2025 with a rule specifically covering fertility procedures.
Any player ranked inside the top 750 who is out of competition for at least 10 consecutive weeks due to egg or embryo freezing qualifies for a Special Entry Ranking (SER). It is calculated as a 12-week average, using eight weeks before and four weeks after the player’s last event. The SER gives access to up to three tournaments at WTA 500 level or below. Grand Slams and WTA 1000 events such as Indian Wells and Miami are excluded.
The physical demands of the process vary considerably between players. Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion who underwent egg freezing twice during her career, described it this way: “Someone might be out for three months, someone might be out for one week. Some people gain a tonne of weight, some people can go back immediately. I think when you are family planning, it’s better if you have that support.”
The WTA also introduced paid maternity leave for the first time in 2025, with more than 320 players eligible for up to 12 months of pay regardless of ranking.
Article by Craig Linton
