4: Alexander Zverev
The World No.3 comes in at No.4 in my re-rankings heading into the quarterfinals. While the German has improved his level progressively throughout the tournament and has a matchup next that he should like on paper, it is also possible that Zverev is a player who has passed his peak and is now regressing, as suggested by his subpar 2025 season. While he should still make the semifinals, anything beyond that feels like a difficult task. Then again, this is a player who reached the final at this very tournament last year.
3: Novak Djokovic
Still the best of the rest, Novak Djokovic slots in at No.3 in the re-rankings at the age of 38. The former World No.1 has played some solid, ultra-aggressive tennis so far in this tournament — something he clearly focused on during the offseason. His biggest advantage, however, is that a walkover in the fourth round has given him four complete days to recharge his batteries ahead of the business end of the tournament. That should help him more than any other player, given his age. Still, a potential semifinal against Jannik Sinner feels like Mount Everest to climb for the 10-time champion at Melbourne Park.
2: Jannik Sinner
The two-time defending champion was a sure bet to be No.1 in my re-rankings until at least the final round, but his physical blip once again in the third round, combined with how the World No.1 is playing, drops Sinner one spot. Still, the Italian remains the player to beat on hard courts. Given his potential quarterfinal and semifinal opponents, two matchups he historically enjoys but that will challenge him, he should still enter the final as the favourite, especially in conditions that might actually be his favourite on tour.
1: Carlos Alcaraz
New year, new coaching team, same old Carlos Alcaraz. The World No.1 sits atop the pre-quarterfinal re-rankings for three reasons:
- Jannik Sinner had a close call in one of his matches.
- Alcaraz produced his best performance of the tournament in the fourth round.
- Alcaraz has been the best player on tour for around seven months now, and there is no reason to overthink that.
All of this gives me enough confidence, as things stand, to place Alcaraz ahead of a two-time defending champion, something I usually do not feel comfortable doing.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
