ROME — Grand Slam titles weren’t the one factor Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz took turns successful this yr.
The highest two tennis gamers additionally trip within the No. 1 rating.
Sinner formally returned to the highest spot of the ATP Rankings on Monday following his victory on the Paris Masters, changing Alcaraz, who had held that honor for almost two months.
Nonetheless, because of rating calculations and guidelines, Alcaraz will likely be again in first place subsequent Monday.
The distinction between the Italian and the Spaniard is at the moment very slim, with Sinner main with 11,500 factors and Alcaraz with 11,250 factors, so who will end this yr in first place will rely upon their efficiency on the subsequent ATP Finals in Turin.
Factors Discount Though neither Sinner nor Alcaraz are enjoying this week (except the ATP Finals begin on Sunday), the rationale the rankings will change once more subsequent Monday is as a result of that’s the day when the factors for every participant’s efficiency in final yr’s finals will likely be lowered.
Subsequent week, Sinner will lose the 1,500 factors they earned by successful final yr’s remaining, whereas Alcaraz will solely lose the 200 factors they earned by failing to advance via the group stage.
Subsequent Monday’s rating will likely be Alcaraz 11,050 and Sinner 10,000.
And with third place Alexander Zverev (5,560 factors), fourth place Taylor Fritz (4,735 factors) and fifth place Novak Djokovic (4,580 factors) far behind, there isn’t any likelihood of anybody else breaking into the highest two instantly.
Sinner and Alcaraz received all 4 of this yr’s majors, amassing big level totals, amongst different tournaments.
Sinner received the Australian Open. Alcaraz then defeated Sinner within the French Open remaining. Sinner acquired his revenge by defeating Alcaraz within the Wimbledon remaining. Alcaraz then defeated Sinner once more to win the US Open trophy.
ATP Finals seeding To additional complicate issues, Alcaraz is just not ranked No. 1 coming into the match, however will likely be seeded No. 1 within the finals.
That is as a result of the ultimate makes use of a unique rating system referred to as “Race to Turin”, the place solely factors accrued within the calendar yr are taken under consideration.
Alcaraz leads Sinner within the race standings by greater than 1,000 factors.
Sinner misplaced his standing in each programs throughout a three-month doping suspension close to the start of this yr.
12 months-end state of affairs Sinner must win the ATP Finals and hopes Alcaraz would not make it to the finals to safe his second consecutive year-end No. 1 rating.
Alcaraz must win three finals matches to complete 2025 on the prime of the rankings for the second time in his profession. Alcaraz achieved the feat in 2022 on the age of 19, making him the youngest participant to complete first in a yr.
As for the WTA rankings, Aryna Sabalenka has already secured the primary spot on the finish of the yr.
After successful titles in Vienna and Paris, Sinner enters Turin in search of a 10-game successful streak and will likely be enjoying on his favourite indoor onerous court docket, the place he can count on an enormous cheer from his dwelling followers within the remaining.
Alcaraz headed to Italy after dropping to Cameron Norrie within the Paris opener, however typically struggled when enjoying indoors.
Auger-Aliassime, Musetti nonetheless making an attempt to qualify Different gamers at the moment qualifying for the highest eight finals within the race are Zverev, Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
Paris finalists Félix Auger-Aliassime and Lorenzo Musetti are nonetheless battling for the ultimate spot, with Musetti needing to win this week’s match in Athens to maneuver forward of the Canadian and qualify for the elite competitors on dwelling soil.
Nonetheless, it’s unclear whether or not Djokovic intends to play within the finals at a time when he has stated he has targeted nearly solely on majors in his profession.
Djokovic, who withdrew from final yr’s remaining, will play in Athens this week.
If Djokovic withdraws, each Auger-Aliassime and Musetti will advance to the ultimate.
The draw for the ultimate match is scheduled for Thursday, however it might nonetheless be unclear who the ultimate qualifiers will likely be.
