The Future of Tennis: Jannik Sinner and the Shifting ATP Rankings

It is in the nature of things that the best tennis player in the world is not necessarily number one in the ATP rankings – at least not immediately, as the world rankings always take the results of the past 52 weeks into account.

Jannik Sinner is currently considered the best in his field. At the end of last year there were already indications that the 22-year-old was on the verge of taking the decisive step.

In all three competitions he beat Novak Djokovic, number one in the rankings, arguably the greatest player to ever play the sport. Such an accumulation of victories against the Serb in such a short time is extremely rare and the best indicator of the South Tyrolean’s exceptional form.

Kyrgios praises Sinner: “A quantum leap”

“My journey is going pretty quickly,” Sinner marveled in Melbourne. Colleague Nick Kyrgios spoke at Eurosport about a “quantum leap” that the new champion had made. “Jannik will be unstoppable.”

Final: Sinner with a mega comeback against Medvedev – highlights

Eurosport expert Boris Becker is sure that the coup at the Happy Slam will carry Sinner through the entire season. “I think he will go even further up the world rankings. Medvedev, Djokovic and Alcaraz have to be warned,” predicts the 56-year-old.

The duel for first place between Djokovic and Alcaraz has turned into a four-way battle – but in which the Serb still has the best cards. The reason: Djokovic will have to defend relatively few points in the coming weeks and months.

ATP ranking – everything speaks for Djokovic

After the 2023 Australian Open title, he didn’t win another title for around four months. He did not play the US Masters in Indian Wells and Miami or the one in Madrid; he suffered round of 16 and quarter-final defeats in Monte Carlo and Rome. This starting position now offers Djokovic the opportunity to significantly increase his points account.

With his pursuers it is rather the opposite. At the relevant time, Alcaraz won tournaments in Buenos Aires, at the Masters in Indian Wells and Madrid and in Barcelona. Medvedev won in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, the Masters in Miami and Rome.

Djokovic works magic in Melbourne – the superstar’s top 5

Sinner, in turn, celebrated a tournament victory in Montpellier and reached the finals in Rotterdam and Miami. The trio is tired of defending world ranking points – and is therefore at a clear disadvantage compared to Djokovic. The new world order in tennis will not come overnight.

Zverev dreams of first place: “What speaks against it?”

The top quartet is 1,545 points apart, after which there is a break with Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev, who are 4,805 and 4,825 points behind first place. But Djokovic also has to fear an attack from this area in the long term.

“I’m now back in the top ten (…) What speaks against me becoming number one this year or at some point?” emphasized Zverev in an interview with “Playboy” shortly before the Australian Open.

Back at the top of the world: Becker draws a positive conclusion from Zverev

Most recently, the Hamburger was close to becoming the industry leader in the 2022 season. Zverev was in the semi-finals of the French Open and gave clay court king Rafael Nadal a huge fight. It was clear: If he beats the Spaniard and then wins the final, his name will be behind number one in the ranking.

Zverev sets an exclamation mark at the start of the season

Zverev is currently sixth and the trend is rising. In Melbourne he also proved that he is almost back to his 2022 form. The clear quarter-final win against Alcaraz was one of “his best Grand Slam matches ever,” said brother and manager Mischa Zverev in a Eurosport interview. Tennis icon Becker spoke during the game of the “best Zverev” he had ever seen.

Mischa exclusively on Zverev-Aus: “In the end he was lacking health”

The 26-year-old may still be without a major title and has never been number one – but he made it clear right at the start of the season that he can play a role if the top rearranges itself over the course of the year.

Beginning of the end? Djokovic vehemently disagrees

With regard to the world rankings, time is now working for the 36-year-old again, as strange as that sounds…

Beaten around the net – the special top 5 of the Australian Open

2024-01-30 11:03:00
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