Can Jannik Sinner overtake Carlos Alcaraz? Hits 26 weeks at No. 1 and threatens to surpass his rival
Jannik Sinner reached 26 weeks as world No. 1 this Monday, edging closer
to Carlos Alcaraz’s record. The 2-time Grand Slam champion has comfortably held
the top spot for months, with his nearly 4,000-point lead virtually
guaranteeing he will remain there even after the Australian Open, where he
defends 2,000 points for his 2024 title.
The Italian is just 10 weeks away from matching his great rival Alcaraz,
who has accumulated 36 weeks as No. 1 so far. On June 10, Sinner became the
29th male player to reach the No. 1 spot in the Open Era, currently ranking
17th on the all-time leaderboard.
Sinner eyes Alcaraz’s No. 1 record
Sinner’s remarkable season will go down as one of the most successful
for a player in a single year. Not only did he claim two Grand Slam titles, but
he also won a total of eight singles titles, the Davis Cup, and finished the
season with a record of 73-6, earning nearly $17 million in prize money.
If the Italian holds on to the top spot, he will reach his 37th week on
February 17, surpassing Alcaraz. Alongside the Australian Open points, he also
defends titles in Rotterdam and the Miami Open, totaling 3,500 points through
the end of February. Only a disastrous start and an almost flawless campaign by
Zverev could prevent Sinner from overtaking Alcaraz.
Should he equal Alcaraz’s 36 weeks, Sinner’s next milestones wouldn’t be
far off, with Ilie Nastase (40 weeks), Andy Murray (41), and Guga Kuerten (43)
close ahead—records he could achieve during the clay swing, the part of the
year where Sinner will defend the fewest points.