Both Will Make it to the Competition Thanks to Their Protected Ranking
In the world of sports, injuries are an unfortunate reality that can hinder an athlete’s ability to compete at their highest level. Whether it’s a sprained ankle, torn ligament, or a more serious injury, it can take months, or even years, for an athlete to fully recover and return to their previous form. This can be especially devastating for professional athletes who rely on their physical abilities to make a living.
However, in recent years, a new system has been put in place to help protect athletes who have been sidelined due to injuries. This system is known as the «protected ranking» and it has become a lifeline for many athletes who have faced setbacks in their careers.
So, what exactly is a protected ranking and how does it work? A protected ranking is a special ranking given to an athlete who has been unable to compete for a certain period of time due to injury or illness. This ranking allows the athlete to enter tournaments and competitions without having to go through the qualifying rounds. It is essentially a way for the athlete to maintain their ranking and not be penalized for their absence from the sport.
The protected ranking system was first introduced by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in 2006. It was initially created to help male tennis players who were returning from long-term injuries. However, in 2019, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) also adopted the protected ranking system, making it available to female players as well.
One of the most notable examples of an athlete benefiting from a protected ranking is tennis superstar, Serena Williams. In 2017, Williams gave birth to her daughter and took a break from the sport to recover and spend time with her family. When she returned to the court in 2018, she was granted a protected ranking of No. 1, allowing her to enter tournaments without having to go through the qualifying rounds. This helped her maintain her ranking and allowed her to compete at the highest level without any setbacks.
The protected ranking system has also been a saving grace for many athletes who have suffered from long-term injuries. One such athlete is Canadian tennis player, Milos Raonic. In 2017, Raonic suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss several tournaments. However, thanks to his protected ranking, he was able to enter the 2018 Australian Open and reached the quarterfinals, despite being ranked outside the top 30 at the time.
The protected ranking system has also been beneficial for athletes in other sports, such as golf and boxing. In golf, the system allows players to maintain their ranking while they recover from injuries or take time off to deal with personal matters. This was the case for golfer Tiger Woods, who was granted a protected ranking in 2014 after undergoing back surgery. This allowed him to enter tournaments without having to go through the qualifying rounds and helped him maintain his ranking.
In boxing, the protected ranking system has been used to help athletes who have suffered from long-term injuries or have taken time off to deal with personal issues. One notable example is British boxer, Tyson Fury, who was granted a protected ranking in 2016 after taking a break from the sport to deal with mental health issues. This allowed him to return to the ring without having to go through the qualifying rounds and helped him maintain his ranking as the world heavyweight champion.
The protected ranking system has not only helped athletes maintain their rankings, but it has also allowed them to compete at the highest level without any setbacks. It has given them the opportunity to ease back into the sport and regain their form without the added pressure of having to qualify for tournaments. This has been especially beneficial for athletes who have suffered from serious injuries and needed time to fully recover.
In addition to helping individual athletes, the protected ranking system has also been beneficial for the sport as a whole. It has allowed top-ranked players to return to the sport after injuries, keeping the competition level high and ensuring that fans get to see their favorite athletes in action.
In conclusion, the protected ranking system has been a game-changer for athletes who have faced setbacks in their careers due to injuries or other personal issues. It has given them the opportunity to return to the sport without any added pressure and has helped them maintain their rankings. Thanks to this system, both male and female athletes have been able to make it back to the competition and continue to inspire fans with their incredible
