Carlos Alcaraz takes UTR No. 1 spot over Sinner, despite ATP Ranking

Carlos Alcaraz leads the UTR Ranking above Jannik Sinner in a ranking endorsed by Novak Djokovic. Besides the official ATP Ranking, which ranks players based on their results over the past 52 weeks, the UTR uses a different method, considering the player’s current form and the ranking of their opponent.

The Spaniard has had a great summer, securing titles at the French Open and Wimbledon. However, the ATP Ranking places him as World No. 3, behind Sinner and Djokovic, due to the few points Alcaraz earned in the latter part of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.

The ATP rankings have always sparked debate, which is why the UTR Rankings are calculated using a different method that takes into account the player's current form and the ranking of their opponent when making the final analysis. Wins against higher-ranked players hold more value in the UTR Rankings compared to the ATP or WTA rankings, which only consider the tournament being played and the round reached.

The UTR rankings are also based on the past weeks and months rather than reflecting results that occurred a year ago. The system was created to promote fair and competitive play. To determine the ranking, each player is given a rating on a scale between 1.00 and 16.50 based on match results. Even Novak Djokovic has endorsed the UTR ranking as one that can more accurately reflect the current state of each player.

Jannik Sinner held the No. 1 spot in the UTR Rankings since January of this year, after winning the Australian Open, dethroning Djokovic from the top. Recently, Alcaraz surpassed the Italian thanks to his titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, taking the top spot and leaving Sinner and Djokovic further behind. The top 5 is completed by Alex De Minaur and Alexander Zverev.