With the prompt withdrawal of Jannik Sinner’s number 1 from the ATP in Vienna, Carlos Alcaraz’s chances of taking first place in the rankings from the Italian have benefited. While it is true that Jannik’s immediate pursuer is Alexander Zverev, it has become clear that the dominance of the circuit is in the hands of the only two players who this year lifted the most important trophies. Carlos Alcaraz is competing in the China Open, a tournament in which Sinner decided not to participate. In Beijing, the Spaniard will seek to recover from the defeat suffered in the semifinals precisely against the Italian in the 2023 edition. Sinner’s career has been one to highlight. After emerging as one of the players to watch during 2023, his victory in the Davis Cup last year (leaving Novak Djokovic among others in the way), he has quickly climbed the ATP rankings, winning his first major in Australia; reaching number one in the world and winning the US Open recently.
Alcaraz, although already established as champion, continues to seek to reaffirm his status and demonstrate that he can compete at the highest level against Sinner.
On this tour of Asia, both players could face each other in the Shanghai Masters, a tournament in which the Europeans will want to improve what they did last year, where the two fell in the round of 16.
Also at the Masters Novak Djokovic returns to action. After an early exit at the US Open, Nole took a long break but has confirmed that he will be back in China. His presence cannot be ignored since at 37 years old, the Serbian has shown that he can fight side by side against the best on the circuit.
It won’t be that long until the ATP Finals, the competition that brings together the best tennis players of the season and in which both Sinner and Alcaraz will surely be present. If some results were given in favor of the Spaniard, a duel between the two in Turin could define who would close 2024 as number one.
But there is one more possible confrontation: The Final Phase of the Davis Cup will be taking place in Malaga a few days after the ATP Finals. There, Alcaraz and the Spanish team will seek to take the throne from the defending champions; precisely the Italian team, led by the recent champion in Flushing Meadows.
This means that we may be on the verge of an epic battle for the top of the rankings, with clashes in Italy and Spain between the two best tennis players of the moment.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Beijing
Sincaraz thriving ✨
