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January 31, 2026 By  ATP, Featured, news

After the Australian Open, ATP Entry Lists Show Where Players Are Headed Next

An exciting Australian Open is nearing its conclusion, with four of the top five players in the world reaching the semifinals. After a brief pause for many top-20 players during the first week of February, the ATP Tour returns to full speed with consecutive weeks of tournament action. While February lacks a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam, it offers a truly global stretch of tennis — and plenty of opportunity for movement in the rankings based on the ATP Entry Lists.

The World’s Top Three Set to Battle in Doha

ATP Doha (the Qatar ExxonMobil Open) is shaping up to be one of the strongest fields of the month. Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic — the world’s top three — are all currently on the entry list for the week of February 16.

Felix Auger-Aliassime and newly crowned top-10 player Alexander Bublik round out the top seeds, while the rest of the field is composed entirely of top-20 players. Daniil Medvedev, who appears rejuvenated early this season, Andrey Rublev, rising Czech talent Jakub Mensik, Karen Khachanov, and Jiří Lehečka are also entered, giving Doha a depth that rivals many Masters-level events.

Fritz Headlines Delray Beach, Cerúndolo Leads the Golden Swing

Several top-20 players will instead head to Delray Beach that same week. Taylor Fritz headlines the American tournament, with Casper Ruud slated as the No. 2 seed and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli — part of the country’s emerging new wave — projected as the No. 3 seed. Learner Tien, a legitimate title contender, and Tommy Paul also join Fritz in the field.

Lorenzo Musetti’s ongoing leg injury makes his participation in Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro unlikely, clearing the way for Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo to be the top seed across all three Golden Swing events. Italy’s Luciano Darderi would move up to the No. 2 seed as a result.

ATP Rotterdam Continues to Attract a Top-Class Field

ATP Rotterdam and ATP Dallas headline the first full week back on tour beginning February 9. By contrast, ATP Montpellier, starting February 2, is not currently set to feature a top-20 player, with Tomáš Macháč and Tallon Griekspoor projected as the top seeds.

Rotterdam’s field remains particularly strong, despite ongoing rumors that the event could eventually be downsized or displaced if the ATP proceeds with a Masters 1000 tournament in Riyadh. Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev lead the field after their epic AO clash, with Australian Open quarterfinalist Alex de Minaur also entered. Auger-Aliassime, Bublik, Medvedev, and British No. 1 Jack Draper round out an impressive lineup. Draper missed the Australian Open due to injury.

In Dallas, American players dominate the top of the draw. Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton are the top two seeds, followed by Casper Ruud as the No. 3 and Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as the No. 4 seed.

Acapulco and Dubai Close Out February

The final week of February splits the ATP Tour’s elite between Dubai and Acapulco. In Mexico, Alexander Zverev is currently slated to appear, with Lorenzo Musetti potentially returning. Alex de Minaur and Ben Shelton round out the projected top four seeds, while Ruud and Davidovich Fokina complete the top six.

Dubai’s entry list features Auger-Aliassime, Bublik, Draper, and Jakub Mensik as the top four seeds. Fellow Czech Jiří Lehečka is currently seeded fifth, while Denis Shapovalov sits sixth. Montpellier top seed Tomáš Macháč, meanwhile, would only be seeded seventh in Dubai as things stand — a reflection of the field’s depth.

Players with Points to Defend in February

Several notable players enter February with ranking pressure. Shapovalov and Ruud were finalists in Dallas last season, while Alcaraz and de Minaur contested the Rotterdam final. Davidovich Fokina defends finalist points in both Delray Beach and Acapulco, while Cerúndolo defends his Buenos Aires final, with defending champion João Fonseca sidelined by injury.

Rublev and Draper were last year’s finalists in Doha, while Auger-Aliassime defends finalist points in Dubai.

Overall, February presents a significant opportunity for movement at the top of the rankings. Only Alcaraz — the defending champion in Rotterdam — carries a substantial points burden. For much of the top 10, the month represents a chance to extend their cushion over the chasing pack before the tour turns toward the Sunshine Double.

Main Photo Credit: SmartFrame Image

About Steen Kirby

Steen is a dedicated sports journalist with over a decade of global experience chasing the drama and excitement of the world’s top sporting events. With a particular passion for tennis, he covers the sport at all levels—from the elite ATP Tour to the grind of the ATP Challenger circuit. Beyond the baseline, Steen’s interests span football, cricket, rugby league, baseball, and Formula 1. A devoted fan of clubs such as Barcelona, Monterrey Rayados, Atlético Nacional, the New York Mets, and Florida State Seminoles, he draws inspiration from the relentless grit of tennis legends Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt.

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