ROME — This year, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz haven’t just been amassing Grand Slam titles; they’ve also been in a thrilling tussle for the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings.
These two tennis titans are constantly exchanging the top ranking, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Following his stunning victory at the Paris Masters, Sinner reclaimed the crown of the ATP rankings on Monday, sliding into the top position and replacing Alcaraz, who had held it for almost two months.
However, due to the intricate math of the rankings, Alcaraz is poised to bounce back into the No. 1 slot next Monday.
The competition is fierce, as Sinner holds a mere lead of 11,500 points compared to Alcaraz’s 11,250. Ultimately, their performance at the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin will decide who finishes the year atop the rankings.
Neither player is in action this week, but the rankings will shift again next Monday when points from last year’s finals drop off.
Sinner will forfeit the 1,500 points he garnered from last year’s finals victory, while Alcaraz will only lose 200 points after exiting at the group stage.
This means that next Monday’s rankings will show Alcaraz with 11,050 points and Sinner with 10,000.
It’s unlikely for any other player to infiltrate the top two positions anytime soon, as No. 3 Alexander Zverev (5,560 points), No. 4 Taylor Fritz (4,735), and No. 5 Novak Djokovic (4,580) trail significantly.
Sinner and Alcaraz have built their impressive points totals by triumphing at all four Grand Slams this year.
Initially, Sinner claimed the Australian Open, followed by an intense battle where Alcaraz triumphed in the French Open final. Sinner struck back by defeating Alcaraz in the Wimbledon finale, only for Alcaraz to secure the U.S. Open trophy in their latest showdown.
Complicating matters, Alcaraz will be the top seed for the finals, despite entering the tournament without the No. 1 ranking.
This occurs because the finals utilize a different ranking system, the “Race to Turin,” which counts only the points earned within the calendar year.
Alcaraz currently leads Sinner in the Race rankings by over 1,000 points.
Unfortunately for Sinner, a three-month doping suspension earlier in the year impacted his standings in both systems.
To clinch the year-end No. 1 spot for a second consecutive year, Sinner must win the ATP Finals while hoping Alcaraz does not reach the final.
Conversely, Alcaraz only needs to win three matches at the finals to finish on top of the rankings once more. He became the youngest player to end a year at No. 1 when he achieved the milestone at just 19 years old in 2022.
In the WTA rankings, Aryna Sabalenka has already secured the top spot for the year.
Sinner arrives in Turin riding a 10-match winning streak, having claimed titles in Vienna and Paris. He will be playing on his preferred indoor hard court and is sure to attract fervent support from local fans.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz heads to Italy following a defeat to Cameron Norrie in his Paris opener, and he has often faced challenges on indoor courts.
Auger-Aliassime and Musetti Still in Contention
Other players who have qualified for the finals include Zverev, Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Fritz, and Alex de Minaur.
Paris finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti are fiercely vying for the final qualification spot, with Musetti needing to secure a tournament win in Athens this week to surpass Auger-Aliassime and earn his place at this prestigious event.
It remains uncertain if Djokovic will participate in the finals, as he has hinted at a focus on major tournaments at this point in his career.
Currently, Djokovic is competing in Athens but withdrew from last year’s finals.
If Djokovic decides to withdraw again, both Auger-Aliassime and Musetti would automatically qualify for the finals.
The draw for the finals is set for Thursday, raising questions about the final qualifying spot.
