Due to his operation on the hip, David turned to the protected ranking. The protected ranking is useful for those players who have suffered from an injury or have undergone surgery and who will be out of activity and competences for more than six months. When coming back to the circuit, the players have the right to participate in eight tournaments keeping the ranking position they held before the injury. The players must show the ATP a medical certification and when competing again, no matter what ranking position the players are holding at that moment, the position they had when getting injured is respected and kept. The reason is to give them the chance to be part of the main draws in the tournaments. The protection of the ranking is effective the first eight tournaments the players take part in or nine months after they have come back. Whatever happens first.