How does protected ranking work? I'm surprised Raonic is still able to use this. It's been years since he last played.
Here’s the (lengthy) section from the ATP Rulebook concerning protected ranking:
F. Entry Protection
1) Petition. A player may petition the ATP CEO, or his designee, for an entry protection when he is physically injured or has a documented medical illness and does not compete in any tennis event, including Special Events – Exhibitions, for a minimum period of six (6) months. The written petition must be received within six (6) months after his last tournament and must provide medical documentation including a letter from a treating licensed physician confirming the injury or illness. Each petition shall be evaluated on a case by case basis by the ATP Medical Services Committee.
2) Calculation and Use. The entry protection shall be a position in the ATP Rankings, as determined by the player’s average ATP Rankings position during the first three (3) months* after his last event played. The entry protection shall be for entry into the main draw or qualifying competition or for special exempt consideration. The entry protection shall not be used for seeding purposes or lucky loser consideration.
*The player must be ranked (have at least one singles ranking point for a singles protected ranking and/or one doubles ranking point for a doubles protected ranking) during each week of this three (3) month period.
A player who has been out of competition and is applying for Entry Protection may not include any period of (Doping, Corruption and/or Conduct) suspension in the player’s weeks away from competition in order to qualify for Entry Protection.
3) Limit of Use.
a) If a player is physically injured and does not compete in any tennis event for a period of at least six (6) months but less than twelve (12) months, the entry protection shall be in effect for the first nine (9) singles and the first nine (9) doubles tournaments that the player competes* in using the entry protection (excluding wild cards and entries as a direct acceptance with his current position in the ATP Rankings) or for the period up to nine (9) months beginning with the first tennis event, including Special Events – Exhibitions, that the player competes in, whichever occurs first.
b) If a player is physically injured and does not compete in any tennis event for a period of twelve (12) months or longer, the entry protection shall be in effect for the first twelve (12) singles tournaments and the first twelve (12) doubles tournaments that the player competes* in using the entry protection (excluding wild cards and entries as a direct acceptance with his current position in the ATP Rankings) or for the period up to twelve (12) months beginning with the first tennis event, including Special Events – Exhibitions, that the player competes in, whichever occurs first.
*Note: For purposes of this rule, once the player is included in the draw or accepts prize money as an on-site withdrawal, the event shall count against the players’ total as specified under a) and b) above. The ATP Cup shall not count against a player’s total protected ranking allowance.
c) The use of a protected ranking to enter the singles and/or doubles of a Grand Slam event is limited to once per Grand Slam event.
d) The use of a protected ranking to enter the singles and/or doubles of the ATP Cup is limited to one (1) per the duration of the player’s Protected Ranking.
Expiration Date. A player has three (3) years from his original last event played to activate his protected ranking and will not be eligible to use his entry protected ranking beyond this date. A player who does not compete in any tennis event, including Special Events – Exhibitions, for a period of three (3) years from the date of his original last event played will have his entry protection revoked.
5) Re-injury Protection. A player who has returned to competition and re-injures himself may petition for a “freeze” of the nine (9) or twelve (12) month limit for competing using his protected ranking. To be eligible for the “freeze” the player must be out of competition for a minimum of three (3) months, the written petition for the “freeze” must be received within this period. Upon the player’s return to competition he shall have the same number of events and weeks remaining as were available when the “freeze” went into effect. A maximum of two (2) “freezes” are allowed during the nine (9) or twelve (12) month period.
Note: For purposes of this rule, three (3) months is calculated at thirteen (13) weeks; six (6) months is calculated at twenty-six (26) weeks; nine (9) months is calculated at thirty-nine (39) weeks; and twelve (12) months is calculated at fifty-two (52) weeks.
Case: A player requests an entry protection freeze after the three (3) year expiration has passed; however, his last event played is before the three (3) year expiration date. Can the player “freeze” his protected ranking?
Decision: A player cannot request a “freeze” after the three (3) year expiration has passed.
Case: A player returns to competition following a “freeze”, the number of weeks remaining from the freeze extend beyond the three (3) year expiration date. Can the player use all remaining weeks past the three (3) year expiration date?
Decision: A player cannot extend the use of his entry protected ranking beyond the three (3) year expiration date.
Case: A player accepted in an ATP Tour, ATP Challenger Tour main draw or ATP Tour/Challenger Qualifying list using a PR, withdraws prior to the withdrawal deadline and accepts a WC into the same event. Does this tournament count towards the total tournaments at which a player may use his PR?
Decision: No, this tournament will not count towards the player’s total of tournaments.
