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Seventh-ranked Zverev said it was “absurd” for him to stay behind Roger Federer under the system after winning two titles and finishing second in Grand Slam and Masters 1000, given that Switzerland was out to injure for over a year.
Rublev has won 16 of his 18 matches in 2021 and extended his winning streak in ATP level 500 tournaments to 21 on Tuesday after defeating Finnish qualifier Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 6-4 in his opener at Dubai.
“If we had the usual system, I would be like No. 4 in the world,” Rublev told reporters when asked about Zverev’s comments. “So what do you think is better for me, being No. 8 or No. 4?”
The 23-year-old Russian has won his last four ATP 500 events, dating back to Hamburg last September, and only Federer has a longer winning streak at the level with 28 wins.
The ATP, which runs the men’s tour, froze the rankings last year during the closure of five professional tournaments, with countries installing locksmiths and sealing borders to check the spread of the coronavirus.
When the tour resumed in August, a revised ranking system was put in place, which determines a player’s ability to enter events and receive seed.
The revised site accounting system has been extended this month until the week of August 9 and the ATP anticipates that the traditional 52-week point drop will resume thereafter.
“With the system we are having now, for me, it is much more difficult to be No. 4, so this is the answer,” said Rublev.