Sinner rules out World No. 1 finish ahead of Alcaraz
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner has ruled himself out of the race to finish the 2025 season as the ATP World No. 1, admitting that overtaking Carlos Alcaraz is no longer within his control.
The 24-year-old Italian tennis star, who held the top spot for 65 weeks before being dethroned by Alcaraz after the US Open final loss in September, said his focus has shifted to preparing for next year.
“It’s impossible to finish the year at No. 1,” Sinner told reporters ahead of his Paris Masters opener.
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“Honestly, I’m not thinking about that right now. It’s going to be a goal for next year.”
Despite trailing Alcaraz by fewer than 1,000 points, Sinner believes the odds are stacked against him.
The Italian could reclaim top spot by winning in Paris Masters, and Alcaraz fails to reach the semi-finals, but he would still need to defend 1,500 points at the ATP Finals in Turin, where he triumphed last year.
“This year it’s not in my hands,” Sinner admitted.
Sinner arrives in Paris Masters in strong form after winning the Vienna Open, though the packed schedule has taken a physical toll. He retired with cramps at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month and later battled thigh discomfort in Vienna.
“It was not the same issue at all in Vienna,” Sinner explained. “The final was very physical. It can happen, but I feel good now, a bit tired, of course, after five matches in a row, but I’m recovering better each day.”
The Italian begins his Paris Masters campaign against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, knowing that while the year-end No. 1 may be out of reach, momentum heading into 2026 remains crucial.
