Jannik Sinner won his fourth title of the year at the Vienna Open and bagged 500 ranking points on Sunday. This victory revived his hope of reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking – keeping Carlos Alcaraz’s position firmly within reach ahead of a blockbuster Paris Masters week.
With Alcaraz missing out on last week’s action, Sinner seized the opportunity in style, slicing into the Spaniard’s lead by clinching the Vienna Open crown. The six-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz – who had reclaimed the top spot after his US Open triumph this year – now leads the World No. 2 by just 840 points. That margin could evaporate in Paris, where both stars are set to face off in the year’s final ATP 1000 event.
If Sinner wins the trophy in Paris and Alcaraz fails to reach the semifinals, the Italian youngster will reclaim the World No. 1 ranking – even if only for brief period, as he is due to lose points from last year’s ATP Finals soon after. Still, the race for the year-end No. 1 could go right down to the wire, adding one more dramatic twist to their budding rivalry.
Meanwhile, the latest ATP Rankings brought subtle but significant shifts. Alex de Minaur edged up one spot, Ben Shelton slipped one place, and both Casper Ruud and Felix Auger-Aliassime climbed two positions to re-enter the top 10. For Auger-Aliassime, it marks a welcome return – his first appearance in the elite bracket since May 2023.
And in the midst of all this movement, Joao Fonseca quietly reached a new career high, signalling that the next generation is coming fast – even as Sinner and Alcaraz continue to set the standard at the top.