Sinner, Zverev, and Alcaraz head to ATP Finals – Who will take the last spots in Turin?

With the end of the US Open, Alexander Zverev has joined already qualified players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the ATP Finals in Turin. The top three players have gained a substantial lead over their rivals, while the tight battle for the lower qualification spots continues.

Players like Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Grigor Dimitrov remain outside the qualification zone but are still within reach of making it to Turin. As the last stretch of the season begins, with no Grand Slam tournaments ahead and only two Masters 1000 events remaining, the fight for ATP Finals spots could remain undecided until the very last week.

With the US Open behind us, three players have already secured their spots in the ATP Finals. The first to qualify was Jannik Sinner months ago, and his performance at the US Open confirmed why he has been the most consistent player of the season, with six titles, two of them being Grand Slams, including the Australian Open.

The second player to qualify is Alexander Zverev, who has had an impressively consistent season, making deep runs in nearly every tournament he's played. The German's highlights include a French Open final, Australian Open semifinals, and winning the Rome Open.

Surprisingly, Carlos Alcaraz, who won Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as the Indian Wells title, is only third in the rankings. The Spaniard missed a couple of Masters 1000 events and had several early exits throughout the year. He has played just 11 tournaments, far fewer than Alexander Zverev's 17, who leads by just over 100 points.

It seems almost certain that Sinner will be the first seed at the Finals, although the battle for the second seed remains wide open between Zverev and Alcaraz, while the wait continues for the next five players to qualify.

Outside the top three spots, the fight for the remaining places is still open. In the fourth position of the Race is Daniil Medvedev, with 4,420 points. With only a few tournaments left, the Russian is close to securing another spot in the Finals, though he'll need to wait a few more weeks to confirm it mathematically.

A little further back is recent US Open finalist Taylor Fritz, who also reached the quarterfinals in the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as well as the semifinals in the Madrid Open. These results, combined with his two ATP 250 titles, give him a total of 3,890 points.

Just slightly behind is the ever-consistent Casper Ruud, with one ATP 500 and one ATP 250 title, a Masters 1000 final in Monte Carlo, and French Open semifinals to his name. He holds a privileged position in 6th place with 3,785 points, although he could still be caught by those trailing behind.

With three players qualified and three others close to securing their spots, the final two ATP Finals places could remain uncertain until the very last moment. At the moment, Andrey Rublev, the Monte Carlo champion, would qualify with 3,480 points, as would Australia's Alex De Minaur, who reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals and holds one ATP 500 and one ATP 250 title this season.

Players who seem closest to qualifying include Novak Djokovic, with 3,260 points. Despite having only played nine tournaments, far fewer than Rublev's 20 and Ruud's 16, the Serbian remains in contention. He hasn’t secured any titles this season, but his Wimbledon final and Australian Open semifinals are his key achievements in the fight for a spot.

We also can't rule out Grigor Dimitrov (2,835 points), Tommy Paul (2,735), Stefanos Tsitsipas (2,735), and Hubert Hurkacz (2,460). The Shanghai Masters and Paris Masters, both of which offer significant ranking points before the Finals, will be crucial, and a strong performance from any of these players could secure them a spot in Turin.