“Sinner is the only number 1 in the world working remotely,” someone ironically wrote on social media. While it may sound amusing, it also sparks reflection.
Three months into 2025 and after the Sunshine Double, Jannik Sinner remains the leader of the Race to Turin. Sure, he won the most important tournament—the Australian Open—but that was the only event he played. Meanwhile, every other player in the top 10 has competed in at least four tournaments.
What do these numbers tell us? First, that no one is as consistent as Sinner, who has managed to stay at the top despite missing two major tournaments, Indian Wells and Miami, due to a doping ban. Second, that the gap between the world’s top 10 players and the rest of the field is not as wide as it was in previous years. This is also a period of struggle for top-10 veterans such as Medvedev, Tsitsipas, and Rublev (Medvedev, for example, is set to leave the top 10 for the first time in two years). At the same time, a new generation—formed by players such as Fonseca, Mensik, and Fils—is making its way to the highest ranks.
With Alexander Zverev’s loss, Jannik Sinner officially scored the most ranking points of anyone at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami…
…without playing in Indian Wells or Miami. pic.twitter.com/qP8HbP6toK
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) March 26, 2025
The Race: Sinner is the Leader
Looking at the numbers, Jannik Sinner has collected the most points in 2025: 2,000, all from his victory in Melbourne. In second place is Alexander Zverev, who is also chasing the Italian in the live rankings but, in order to overcome him, will need to win all three upcoming tournaments (Monte Carlo, Munich, and Madrid) before Sinner returns to competition. The German has played seven tournaments so far, yet 1,300 of his 1,665 points come from his Australian Open final.
The third place belongs to Jack Draper, who won the second most important tournament of the season so far, the Indian Wells Masters 1000. Carlos Alcaraz sat in fourth place, but he has been struggling. Though he secured a title in Rotterdam he has failed to make an impact in the Sunshine Double, already suffering four painful defeats this year.
The new entry in the top 5 of the Race after the Miami Open is Novak Djokovic. After reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open, he entered the tournament in Florida on a 3-match losing streak. However, he managed to find his best form and went on to reach final, climbing to the fourth spot, 490 points behind Sinner. We’re talking about Djokovic, likely the greatest in this sport, yet it’s not a good look for the other players (excluding Jannik) if one of the top contenders in the Race is a guy who’s almost 38 years old.
The rest of the top 10 features a mix of surprises and reliable names. Felix Auger-Aliassime has been a revelation, winning two tournaments in 2025, while Alex de Minaur continues to prove himself as one of the most solid players on the ATP Tour. Thanks to his semifinal run in Melbourne, Ben Shelton have also secured a spot in the top 10. Carlos Alcaraz sits 5th, while Jakub Mensik burst onto the scene in 6th by winning the ATP Miami Masters in a huge surprise. This young Czech player is still yet to crack the top 20 in the official ATP rankings overall.
The Clay Season
A new chapter is about to begin as the ATP Tour transitions from hard courts to clay in a two-month stretch leading up to the second Grand Slam of the year, French Open.
What can we expect from the clay season? As the top players—Zverev, Alcaraz, and Djokovic—are competitive on all surfaces, they will likely remain at the top. Meanwhile, American players like Shelton and Paul might drop a few spots, while clay-court specialists are ready to climb the rankings.
Who are the names to watch? Casper Ruud is a clear contender, as is Stefanos Tsitsipas, a three-time Monte Carlo champion. Some South American players, like Joao Fonseca or Sebastian Baez, could also make a strong push.
One thing seems certain: Jannik Sinner is the man everyone will be chasing all season long. While Alcaraz remains a serious Grand Slam threat, no one has shown Sinner’s level of consistency in 2025.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
