Carlos Alcaraz secures year-end No 1 ranking after ATP Finals victory
Carlos Alcaraz has secured the year-end world No 1 ranking for the second time in his career after defeating Lorenzo Musetti at the ATP Finals in Turin, marking his third round robin win this week, reports BritPanorama.
This victory ensures that Alcaraz finishes ahead of his rival Jannik Sinner, who could have overtaken him only if Alcaraz had lost at least one of his group matches. Instead, the 22-year-old has advanced to the semi-finals and remains poised for a potential showdown with Sinner in the final.
Alcaraz’s 2025 season has been his most successful to date, with Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and the US Open among his eight titles for the year. His remarkable victory over Sinner in the Roland Garros final, where he saved three championship points, is considered one of the season’s highlights.
Earlier in his career, Alcaraz ended a season as world No 1 for the first time in 2022 following his US Open triumph, becoming the youngest player to achieve that ranking in ATP history. This year’s success comes during a season when Sinner missed three months due to a doping matter, which Sinner has consistently denied, and from which he faced no competitive suspension.
Reflecting on regaining the top spot, Alcaraz said, “The year-end No 1 is always a goal. At the beginning of the year, I saw the No 1 really, really far away with Jannik winning almost every tournament he plays. However, I had the chance to play great tennis in a lot of tournaments in a row to put myself in with a chance.” He added, “In the last three, four tournaments of the year, I was fighting toe to toe with Jannik for this spot and then finally I got it. For me, it means everything.”
With Sinner recently extending his indoor hard court win streak to 28 matches and winning titles in Vienna and Paris, the upcoming finale in Turin presents a captivating climax to a year defined by their intensifying rivalry. Alcaraz is now aiming for his maiden title at the season-ending event, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to a remarkable tennis season.
As these two young stars continue to dominate the circuit, the narrative speaks volumes about the evolving landscape of tennis culture; the juxtaposition of their talents fosters a new chapter in the sport’s storied history — one reload with promise as the season grinds to a decisive close.
