Jannik Sinner makes big schedule decision that could impact battle for year-end No 1 ranking
Jannik Sinner has confirmed he will play only four more events during the final stretch of the 2024 season with one big tournament dropping off his calendar.
The world No 1 will not return to Austria this year to defend his Vienna Open title, leaving only the Shanghai Masters, Paris Masters and ATP Finals left on his calendar for the remainder of the ATP Tour campaign while he will also represent Italy at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Sinner has a healthy lead at the top of the ATP Rankings, but dropping 500 points from last year’s event in Vienna could have an impact on the race to finish the 2024 season as the year-end No 1.
The two-time Grand Slam winner – who has been top of the rankings since June when became the first Italian world No 1 – has 11,180 points in the official rankings – a lead of 4,305 over Alexander Zverev in second place while Carlos Alcaraz is another 185 points adrift in third place.
Top 3 in ATP Rankings
1. Jannik Sinner – 11,180
2. Alexander Zverev – 6,875
3. Carlos Alcaraz – 6,690
But Sinner also has the most points to defend during the final few months compared to his two closest rivals.
The Italian will drop 2,180 points (500 from the current China Open, 90 from the Shanghai Masters, 500 from the Vienna Open, 90 from the Paris Masters and 1,000 from the ATP Finals), which effectively puts him on 9,000 points.
Of course, he can make up points at the current Beijing ATP 500 event, Shanghai, Paris and Turin.
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Zverev, meanwhile, only has 760 points (180 Beijing, 90 Vienna, 90 Paris and 400 in Turin) to defend for the rest of the campaign, which him on 6,115 points. The German, though, is currently out with pneumonia and it remains to be seen when he will return to action.
Alcaraz is the other player in with a shout and he is defending 180 points in Beijing, 90 in Shanghai, 10 in Paris and 400 in Turin for a total of 680. The Spaniard is expected to also only play in China (ongoing), Shanghai, Paris and Turin.
Top 3 after 2023 points drop off
1. Jannik Sinner 9,000
2. Alexander Zverev – 6,115
3. Carlos Alcaraz – 6,010
The good news for Alcaraz, especially, is that a maximum of 4,000 points are up for grabs in those four tournaments.
However, he will need to pull off an incredible run at China (500 points), Shanghai (1000 points), Paris (1,000 points) and Turin (1,500 points for winning the tournament undefeated) while Sinner can also not be discounted.
But the Italian’s decision to drop the Vienna Open from his calendar does mean the race for the year-end No 1 ranking is likely to only be settled at the ATP Finals.
