Sinner's Shot at No.1: Can Paris Masters Tilt the World Rankings Away from Alcaraz?
28 October 2025
The Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner has a real shot at reclaiming world No.1 this week as the Paris Masters 1000 unfolds.
Alcaraz grabbed the top spot after capturing the US Open and has held it since; Sinner could strike back in the season-ending Masters 1000.
The ball is in Sinner's court.
Sinner must win the title to have a chance to reclaim the top spot on Monday.
If the 24-year-old lifts the trophy and Alcaraz doesn't reach the semi-finals, the rankings could flip.
If Sinner fails to win his first Masters 1000 title this season, he won't have a chance to return to No.1.
And Alcaraz can secure No.1 by reaching the semi-finals.
End-of-year race and Paris stakes
Regardless of what happens this week, Alcaraz remains firmly in control of the year-end No.1 race. He currently leads the direct race to Turin by a sizeable margin, a key metric in the final stretch of the season, with a buffer of several thousand points.
Sinner, who starts against Zizou Bergs in his French opener, must cut the deficit to around 1,750 points by the end of Paris to have any chance of claiming the year-end top spot for a second time.
There are more 250-point events in Athens and Metz, neither of which conveyed a win for Alcaraz or Sinner yet, followed by the Nitto ATP Finals where the undefeated champion earns 1,500 points.
Alcaraz begins his campaign today, Tuesday, against British star Cameron Norrie in the second round.
Paris’s top seed and a historical proving ground
From Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg's electric serves in the 80s and 90s to the stubborn backlines of today’s stars like Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, Paris has long tested the world’s No.1s. Since the event adopted its new identity in 1986, nine members of the elite group have shared 21 titles at this indoor-hard venue. This year, both Alcaraz and Sinner are among the frontrunners to join this storied list—the champions who have already reached No.1 in the world.
Djokovic, seated atop the all-time list with 428 total weeks at No.1, has claimed seven titles in Paris, with his 2023 Paris triumph marking his 40th Masters title and expanding a remarkable record. Medvedev, a top-5 regular in Paris, comes in on a strong run after winning in Almaty, his first title in over two years. He previously lifted Paris in 2020, staging a dramatic comeback in the final against Zverev, overturning a late deficit to seal the title and then winning the season-ending event weeks later.
Historically, Paris often signals the road to the Nitto Finals—Andy Murray in 2016 demonstrated the link by finishing the year with a 24-match winning run and clinching Paris at Masters, a pivotal moment that helped seal his year-end No.1. Federer’s lone Paris Masters title came in 2011, a rare spark in a career filled with great moments. Since 2007, the shift from carpet to indoor hard courts has favored backcourt specialists with heavy groundstrokes, a trend that has benefited players like Safin, who captured early Paris titles in the new era.
Neither Alcaraz nor Sinner has yet secured Paris Masters glory this year. Will the final edition crown one of them, or will a blockbuster week rewrite the No.1 tale in tennis? The answer may hinge on resilience, momentum, and a little late-week magic.
Sniper punchline 1: If Sinner snatches No.1, Alcaraz might need to hire a GPS, because staying on top with this many backhands is a long trek uphill—good luck finding the top of the mountain without a map!
Sniper punchline 2: In tennis and stand-up alike, the crowd loves a comeback, but only one scoreboard can speak—may the best one win, and may the jokes stay as sharp as the serves.
