US Open 2025: What Carlos Alcaraz must do to reclaim World No. 1 ranking from Jannik Sinner?

Anirudh, an engineer by training, has been contributing to Khel Now since 2024. He loves crafting inspiring stories.

Published at :August 22, 2025 at 9:26 PM

Modified at :August 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM

US Open: What Carlos Alcaraz must do to reclaim World No. 1 from Jannik Sinner?

Carlos Alcaraz’s Cincinnati triumph has put him back in the reckoning for the World No. 1 spot.

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner has spent more than 50 consecutive weeks as the World No. 1, and for the first time, his top position on the ATP rankings has been put in jeopardy. Sinner has enjoyed an incredible year, despite missing three months of tennis action at the start of the season due to a doping suspension.

In addition to his Australian Open 2025 crown, Sinner claimed his maiden Wimbledon trophy, ending Carlos Alcaraz‘s two-year reign in London. The Spaniard has been equally impressive, and enters the phase of the year where he struggled in 2024. Alcaraz managed to claim only 90 points since Wimbledon until the US Open last year.

However, a strong showing in Cincinnati has helped him make big gains on the ATP charts. Meanwhile, Sinner must defend 3,000 points in Cincinnati and New York. The Italian’s title defense ended abruptly in the final, as illness forced the top seed to forfeit the battle midway.

With another 2,000 points to defend at Flushing Meadows, Sinner will be feeling the heat now more than ever, as the race to the top continues to get intense with every passing tournament.

Scenarios for both ATP players-

One (in the) World Observatory. pic.twitter.com/N5OplKbUCT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 21, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz

After a second-round exit at the 2024 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz now has a prime opportunity to strengthen his bid for the World No. 1 ranking. The Spanish tennis star has made it clear that his goal is to finish the 2025 season as the top-ranked men’s singles player.

With the ongoing hard-court swing presenting his best chance, a title win would boost his points tally to 9,540. While lifting the trophy may not immediately place him above Jannik Sinner, it would significantly narrow the gap between the two.

ALSO READ: Will Jannik Sinner compete in US Open 2025 singles event after Cincinnati collapse?

Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner will face immense pressure following his disappointment in Cincinnati. While the Italian is widely regarded as the best hard-court player on tour, doubts linger over his ability to recover quickly from illness. In the unlikely event that he exits the championship in the first round, his points would drop to 9,480.

As the top seed, Sinner will be determined to defend his 2,000 points and maintain his position at the summit. Should he reach the semifinals, the gap between him and Carlos Alcaraz would remain substantial, even if the Spaniard goes on to lift the trophy.

If Alcaraz wins the title, how many ranking points will Sinner have after each round he advances?

Round Reached by Sinner	Sinner’s updated Points	Alcaraz’s updated Points	Who Becomes World No. 1?
First Round Exit	~9,480	~11,540	Alcaraz
Second Round Exit	~9,530	~11,540	Alcaraz
Third Round Exit	~9,580	~11,540	Alcaraz
Fourth Round Exit	~9,680	~11,540	Alcaraz
Quarterfinal Exit	~9,880	~11,540	Alcaraz
Semifinal Exit	~10,280	~11,540	Alcaraz
Finalist (Loses Final)	~10,780	~11,540	Alcaraz

If Sinner wins the title, how will Alcaraz’s points be affected with every round?

Round Reached by Alcaraz	Alcaraz’s updated Points	Sinner’s updated Points	Who Becomes World No. 1?
First Round Exit	~9,550	~11,480	Sinner
Second Round Exit	~9,590	~11,480	Sinner
Third Round Exit	~9,640	~11,480	Sinner
Fourth Round Exit	~9,740	~11,480	Sinner
Quarterfinal Exit	~9,940	~11,480	Sinner
Semifinal Exit	~10,340	~11,480	Sinner
Finalist (Loses Final)	~10,840	~11,480	Sinner

ATP rankings leading to the US Open 2025-

Jannik Sinner – 11480
Carlos Alcaraz – 9590
Alexander Zverev – 6230
Taylor Fritz – 5575
Jack Draper – 4440
Ben Shelton – 4280
Novak Djokovic – 4130
Alex de Minaur – 3545
Karen Khachanov – 3240
Lorenzo Musetti – 3205

What must Carlos Alcaraz do at the US Open 2025 to overtake Jannik Sinner as World No. 1?

Alcaraz needs to win the title and hope Sinner exits before the semifinals to secure the top ATP ranking.

How many points will Jannik Sinner lose if he exits early at the US Open 2025?

If Sinner loses in the first round, his points drop to 9,480, giving Carlos Alcaraz a clear chance.

Can Carlos Alcaraz reclaim World No. 1 even if Jannik Sinner reaches the US Open semifinals?

No. If Sinner makes the semifinals, the gap remains too wide, even if Alcaraz lifts the trophy.

Who are the ATP top 5 players leading into the US Open 2025?

The ATP top 5 are Jannik Sinner (11,480), Carlos Alcaraz (9,590), Alexander Zverev (6,230), Taylor Fritz (5,575), and Jack Draper (4,440).

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Aniruddh Seshadri

Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.