Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner officially has enough points to end the year as world number one, after winning the Shanghai Masters.
In fact, Sinner was certain to hold the top spot on the ATP rankings at the end of the year before he played Novak Djokovic in the final. He is the first Italian to hold the top spot on the ATP Tour at the end of a season.
Previously, on June 10, Sinner also became the first Italian, both men’s and women’s singles, to achieve the world number one position since the scoreboard was introduced in 1973. He has held the position ever since and will maintain it until at least early 2025.
Sinner celebrates winning the Shanghai Masters on the Center Court at the Qizhong Forest Sports City tennis complex in Shanghai on October 13. Photo: ATP.
“It’s amazing, the number one position after a long year of fighting has been my dream since I was a kid,” Sinner said at a press conference in Shanghai on October 12. “At this moment, it means even more to me, my team, my family and my friends. They have always been by my side during the most difficult times and they will share the glory with me.”
Sinner is the 19th player in history to hold the year-end ATP number one ranking, and the fourth still competing this year, joining Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner has maintained an astonishing 65-6 record, reaching at least the quarterfinals in all 14 tournaments he has played in and winning seven titles, including two Grand Slams. Despite the pressure of a failed doping test, Sinner has won 21 of his last 22 matches, losing only to Alcaraz in the China Open final and recently won his fourth Masters 1000 title, beating Djokovic 7-6, 6-3 in Shanghai.
This year also marked Sinner as the third male player in history to win his first two Grand Slams in the same season, the titles in Australia and the United States. The last man to achieve this feat was Guillermo Vilas in 1977.
Sinner started the year ranked world number four, and made a huge breakthrough at the first Grand Slam of the year when he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final from two sets down. He has won all 16 of his first matches this season and has the chance to add to his current record of 64 wins – a personal and Italian tennis record.
In addition to the two Grand Slams, Sinner has won three Masters 1000 titles this season in Miami, Cincinnati and Shanghai, as well as two ATP 500 titles in Rotterdam and Halle. He also reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
Sinner may remain number one until the end of the year, but he is unlikely to compete next season. He is under review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a failed doping test at Indian Wells in March. If found guilty of violating CAS procedures, Sinner could be banned from competition for one to two years.
