Carlos Alcaraz certainly has the chance to end this season at the top of the ATP rankings, already having an advantage in the ATP Race and having to defend far fewer points than his top rival Jannik Sinner between now and the end of 2025.
The Italian ace had to stay out of the professional tour for about three months due to the controversial ban that affected him, which is why he had to miss several major tournaments and could not get points in that time.
Although Carlitos did not shine during the spring, his level has risen exponentially since the start of the red clay season, in which he has finally found the consistency that he has often lacked during his young career.
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Sinner and Alcaraz fight for No.1
The two titans of men's tennis faced each other in the final at both Roland Garros and the Wimbledon Championships, with one victory each. The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria will have to defend his title both in Cincinnati and at the US Open, while the 22-year-old Spaniard was prematurely eliminated in these two tournaments last season.
However, the five-time Grand Slam champion has often had a drastic drop in the second half of the year and has suffered numerous defeats against lower-level opponents. The star from Murcia will have to correct the mistakes made in the past, otherwise it will be Jannik who celebrates at the end of 2025.
On the latest edition of the 'Nothing Major' podcast, former American ace Steve Johnson predicted which player will finish the season as No.1: I think Carlos ends the year as number one and he also had a three month head start, Johnson said. Sinner was out for four Masters series, so I just think he gets him. But it entirely depends on the big events. You win the Open and its 2000 points.
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One of these guys loses kind of early. You lose in the quarters and somebody wins it and they are going to get a 1500 point head start just from that event. But I think Carlos gets him at the end of the year. I think after his loss at Wimbledon, I think that was a kick in the pants for him to be like I need to be better.
