Jannik Sinner: The No. 1 Spot Is Now Truly at Risk—Zverev Is Eyeing the Chance to Overtake Him

Jannik Sinner will not be competing in the ATP 500 in Beijing. The Italian’s most recent match was therefore the Wimbledon final, which he won against Sascha Zverev. And it is precisely the German who is indirectly back in the spotlight, as Sinner’s absence in Beijing further narrows the gap between the two in the ATP rankings.

In fact, 1,370 points currently separate Sinner from Zverev, who is second in the world rankings. This gap could narrow even further in the coming weeks, considering that Sinner has a much larger points total to defend than his rival.

In the final stretch of last season, Sinner had in fact accumulated a significant number of points. Following his triumph in Beijing and early exit in Shanghai, he went on to win consecutive titles in Vienna, Paris, and at the ATP Finals. These last three tournaments alone account for 3,000 points that Sinner will have to defend.

Zverev, on the other hand, is starting from a very different situation. During the 2025 Asian swing, the German had earned just 110 points, leaving him ample room to earn new ones this season.

Sinner’s withdrawal thus opens up a scenario that seemed hard to imagine just a few months ago. Zverev will, in fact, have the chance to further close the gap in the race for the world No. 1 ranking. A potential double victory in Beijing and Shanghai would allow him to overtake Sinner in the rankings.