ATP players: seeded vs. unseeded

[anubis]

I apologize if this has already been answered, but I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone know how the ATP decides who plays the tournaments and who does not?

There's over 1500 ranked ATP players, from everywhere between 1 ATP point to 10,000 points. When I watch the matches, I always see "seeded" players with a number next to their name (which doesn't correspond to their ATP ranking), along with unseeded players which are usually well outside of the top 100.

Since there's more players than there are slots, who decides who plays and who does not? Seems rather complex to me.

thanks.

 

[SStrikerR]

Players with a high ranking get automatic entry. Other spots are filled by wild cards, or players who went through the qualifying rounds. Seeds do not match up with ranking because not every player enters every event.

 

[Tcbtennis]

There are different levels of tournaments with the Grand Slams being the most prestigious. They offer the highest amount of ranking points (2000) and prize money. All the top players enter these. Usually the seeding and the ranking are the same unless a top player is injured and cannot play. The next level would the Year End Championship (1500 points) but only the best 8 players of the calendar year are invited. Next is the Master Series which offers 1000 points. It is only a draw of 32 (I think) and the top 8 seeds get a bye. All the top players want to play these but only the best get in based on their ranking. The next levels are the ATP 500 and ATP 250 whose points are 500 and 250 respectively. Lower ranked players enter theses but occasionally you will see marquee players showing up (i.e. Federer in Basel, Djokovic in Belgrade, Nadal in Barcelona). You may also see multiple ATP 250 tournaments going on at the same time so that spreads the fields around.

The seeding is based on the ranking of the players. If at an ATP 250 the highest ranked players entered are number 25, 34 and 38 in the world then they will be seeded 1, 2 and 3. Players who enter the tournament but don't have a high enough ranking to get into the main draw can play in qualifying draw but even then the people who get to play qualies get in based on their ranking.