The two-year ranking system has been in the news this week with Rafael Nadal claiming that Tennis could replicate Golf’s model in order to help players take appropriate breaks during the season, in order to avoid long-term injuries.
The current ranking system does not allow players to skip big tournaments as that would risk their world rankings, something that players are not comfortable with and hence end up forcing themselves into events even when they are not fully up for it.
While the 2 year ranking system could help top(and older) players plan their schedule more efficiently, it could prove to be a huge hindrance for a new player trying to break into the top 100 of the rankings.
In this 5 year old interview, Federer focuses on the problems that a 2-year ranking system would entail, saying that it would make tennis boring, and cause a lot of issues for the lower ranked players.
“I’m not a big fan of it just because I think it would make things rather boring. But that’s my personal opinion. Other than that, as the president of the Player Council, I think it’s not a good thing for the lower‑ranked players, to be quite honest.”
“I think it’s going to be a struggle for them to make a big breakthrough. It’s going to take them multiple breakthroughs. So the dream of having one great tournament, then making a move, in my opinion, is never going to happen.” Federer said
“I like golf, but I couldn’t tell you who’s in the top 10 of golf right now. I couldn’t even mention four players. This is where I think tennis lives from the weekly rankings we have, the changes. You guys love it, I think. You guys like writing stories and the debates about what’s going on.” Federer added, emphasising on how the change in rankings keeps the sport ‘alive'(and maybe relevant).
“If we have a two‑year ranking, things would be so slow and nothing would really move. I can’t support it as a president of the Player Council and I have to look at all the players in the eye.” Federer said.
“I know it could be a good thing for me or for Rafa or for other good players because we would stay at the top for a very long time. For us to move down in the rankings would take something extraordinary. But for the lower‑ranked players, I don’t think it’s a good thing and that’s why I can’t support it.” he concluded.
While Rafa has been advocating for the two-year ranking system, with the hope of preventing players at the top, Roger follows the other school of thought, which believes that younger players need to have a fair chance of rising to the top(something that the 2 year ranking wouldn’t foster).
