Sinner amplifies distance from Alcaraz in the ATP Race with Cincinnati Open crown

Jannik Sinner extends his lead in the ATP Race to Turin after clinching the Cincinnati Open title. The Italian secured his 5th title of the year and capitalized on Carlos Alcaraz's early exit to comfortably maintain his top position in the Race.

The world No. 1 has already mathematically qualified for the Finals after reaching the quarterfinals in Montreal just a week ago. Sinner has now opened up a lead of over 1,400 points over Alcaraz, giving him a stronger chance to finish the US Open as the leader of the Race.

The Live Race reflects the points each player has earned throughout the calendar year, unlike the official Ranking, which considers the last 52 weeks of competition. The Race not only determines the 8 qualifiers for the Finals but also the ranking each player will hold at the end of the year.

In 2024, Sinner has undoubtedly been the most consistent, with a 48-5 record and five titles to his name, including his first Grand Slam at the US Open and two Masters 1000 titles at the Miami Open and, just a day ago, in Cincinnati. He comfortably holds the top spot with 7,400 points.

His main challenger is Alcaraz with 5,960 points. The Spaniard enjoyed two dream months after winning the French Open and Wimbledon, though these two titles make up the bulk of his points for the year, each contributing 2,000 points, along with the Indian Wells title adding another 1,000 points. However, the first part of the year was bittersweet for Alcaraz, with injuries causing him to miss some tournaments and suffer a couple of early defeats.

The third-ranked player is Alexander Zverev, who closed the gap with Alcaraz after reaching the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open. The title at the Rome Open and then reaching the final at Roland Garros allowed the German to rapidly climb the rankings, and he now sits with 5,725 points, just 245 behind Alcaraz.

The top three have a significant lead over their pursuers, and it seems only a matter of time before Alcaraz and Zverev secure their spots in the Finals. However, further down, the battle remains fierce, and the US Open will be crucial for the ambitions of the top players.

In fourth place, with a relatively comfortable margin, is Daniil Medvedev (4,020), the only player in the top 10 without a title this year, but he has been consistent in reaching several finals, including Indian Wells and the Australian Open. A bit further behind is Casper Ruud (3,595), with his best performances coming from winning the Barcelona Open and reaching the final at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Rounding out the top 8 (and potential qualifiers for the Finals) are Andrey Rublev (3,280), Novak Djokovic (3,160), and Alex De Minaur (2,905). The Russian has experienced some rough patches in 2024, but the title at the Madrid Open gave him a boost that keeps him in the top tier. Similarly, Nole had a slow start to the season, but reaching the Wimbledon final allowed him to climb back into the leading positions. As for De Minaur, his consistency has paid off, making this the best season of his career so far.

With just one Grand Slam and two Masters 1000 events remaining, there are still a few last opportunities for the players further back to secure a spot in Turin, especially considering that several players with previous Finals appearances are still in the running for a berth.

The main contenders include Stefanos Tsitsipas (2,725), Taylor Fritz (2,590), Hubert Hurkacz (2,540), Tommy Paul (2,535), and Grigor Dimitrov (2,435). A strong run by any of them at Flushing Meadows could shake up the current top 8.