Former tennis star assesses that Jannik Sinner cannot catch up to Carlos Alcaraz

Nevertheless, the race for the No.1 ranking this year still leans towards Alcaraz. The 22-year-old recently earned his second title of the year in Beijing and is regarded as a leading contender for the Shanghai championship—where he previously won in 2024 after an impressive campaign.

However, "Carlitos" had to retire in the third round against Tallon Griekspoor due to cramping. This early withdrawal caused him to lose valuable ATP ranking points, which slightly revived Sinner’s chances.

According to current plans, Sinner will compete in one more tournament than Alcaraz from now until year-end, specifically the Vienna Open (ATP 500). Last year, he did not participate in Paris-Bercy but this year must defend his ATP Finals title in Turin—where he showed dominant form last season. In contrast, Alcaraz was eliminated early in the group stage of the tournament for the top eight players last year.

Commenting on Tennis Channel, former American player Sam Querrey stated that the ATP No.1 race is still unlikely to slip from Alcaraz’s grasp: "Carlos won’t end the season with two consecutive losses, right? I believe he will still win several matches, possibly adding another title. Sinner was also outstanding late last season, winning three tournaments in a row, but the current gap with Carlos remains too wide."

With consistent form and strong mental toughness, Alcaraz holds a significant advantage in this prestigious race. Although Sinner still has chances in the final tournaments, the likelihood of the Italian overturning the "young Spanish storm" seems low.