Jannik Sinner will face a tough challenge in
maintaining his world No. 1 ranking in the coming months following his
quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon. The Italian was on a good run at the All
England Club but fell to Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller, failing to
defend the points he gained in 2023.
Meanwhile, the final from last year between
Alcaraz and Djokovic was repeated with the same outcome. This allowed Sinner’s
main contenders to defend their points and narrow the gap with the Italian. The
22-year-old is now preparing for a significant defence of points in the
upcoming months.
Upcoming points defence in key tournaments
The next challenge for top players like Sinner,
Alcaraz, and Djokovic will be the Olympic Games, starting in a week. On the
clay courts of Roland Garros, players will aim for medals, providing a unique
opportunity to see top singles players also competing in doubles for their
countries.
Read also
The Olympic tournament does not award ATP
points, so the top rankings will remain unchanged after the event. Currently,
the player in the best position to overtake Sinner is world No. 3 Carlos
Alcaraz, who has won two Grand Slam titles in just over a month, earning a
total of 4,000 points for the ranking. Sinner leads with 9,570 points, followed
by Novak Djokovic (8,460) and Carlos Alcaraz (8,130).
The significant points defence begins in August
with the Masters 1000 Canadian Open, followed by the Cincinnati Open in
consecutive weeks. Later in the same month, the US Open will take place, where
Djokovic defends his title.
From now until the end of the US Open, Sinner
will defend 1,230 points, mainly due to his title in Canada. Djokovic will
defend 3,000 points with titles at the Cincinnati Open and US Open. Alcaraz
will defend 1,570 points, primarily from reaching the finals in Cincinnati and
the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
While it may seem that Sinner still holds a
good lead over his contenders, he will be defending a substantial number of
points throughout the rest of the season. When considering only the points
accumulated in 2024 (Race), Sinner is just 250 points ahead of Alcaraz.
Jannik Sinner at the 2024 French Open.
Boris Becker on Sinner’s Ascent
Former world No. 1 Boris Becker reflected on
Sinner’s impressive rise over the past year and the challenge of maintaining
that position: “I think Sinner is on the right track. He has been playing at a
very high level for months now, and his greatest quality is consistency. If we
focus on the last period, he hasn’t played a ‘bad match’ yet, touching wood.
“On the one hand, you can’t always win, but on
the other, he always has a very high level, more than anyone else since the
beginning of the year. So to surpass him, you have to do even better and that’s
why this year he has only lost a couple of matches. There is the eternal debate
about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ draws. To me, as a player and then as a coach, it has
always seemed like a sterile discussion. It is the player who makes the draw a
good draw.”
Sinner will defend his titles later in the
season at the China Open and Vienna Open, as well as his final at the ATP
Finals. In total, he has 3,370 points to defend until the end of the season,
while Alcaraz will defend 2,170 points.
| PLAYER | POINTS | POINTS IN 2024 |
| Jannik Sinner | 9,570 | 6,200 |
| Novak Djokovic | 8,460 | 3,160 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 8,130 | 5,950 |
| Alexander Zverev | 7,015 | 4,7895 |
| Daniil Medvedev | 6,525 | 4,000 |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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