Carlos Alcaraz made history at the Australian Open with an iconic victory, while Jannik Sinner’s tournament journey ended dramatically.
Alcaraz’s triumph in Melbourne established him as the youngest player in the Open Era to achieve a Career Grand Slam, marking his seventh Grand Slam singles title overall after defeating Novak Djokovic in a four-set final.
In stark contrast, Sinner’s title defence concluded with a thrilling five-set semi-final loss to Djokovic, ending his remarkable 19-match winning streak at the Australian Open.
Current Standings
The latest ATP Rankings update has favored Alcaraz, following his victory in Melbourne.
Conversely, Sinner’s 800 points from reaching the semi-finals replaced the 2,000 points he earned for winning the tournament last year, resulting in a net loss of 1,200 points.
Future Outlook
The upcoming months are expected to be captivating as Sinner has no points to defend.
Sinner faced a three-month suspension after the 2025 Australian Open due to a significant doping violation, which barred him from competition until the Italian Open in May post his Melbourne victory.
This places Sinner in a position to accumulate ranking points until May 2026, offering a chance to narrow the gap with Alcaraz.
The Ranking Battle Ahead
With no Grand Slam events in the next three months, Sinner will still have plenty of points at stake.
Four Masters 1000 events, including Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, and Madrid Open, present a combined total of 4,000 points during this time.
Before Indian Wells, both players will compete at the ATP 500 Qatar Open from February 16-21, where Alcaraz must defend 100 points due to last year’s quarter-final finish.
Can Alcaraz Maintain His Lead?
Despite the competitive environment, Alcaraz has relatively less to defend during this period compared to other stages of the season.
He faces a 1,000-point defence from the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters, 400 from Indian Wells, and minimal points from the Miami Open, following an early exit last year.
Overall, Alcaraz has 2,340 points to protect leading up to the Italian Open, with some notable opportunities for gaining points in key events.
The upcoming tournaments, particularly the Italian Open and Roland Garros, will be critical for both players, as Alcaraz has 3,000 points to safeguard, compared to Sinner’s 1,950.
