Jannik Sinner is set to climb to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on 10 June. The 22-year-old will become the first Italian and just the 29th player overall to top men’s tennis.
Sinner began the year at World No. 4. But with a massive surge to begin 2024, highlighted by his first major title at the Australian Open, an ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami and semi-finals at Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo, he will now ascend to the very top of the sport.
“What can I say? First of all it is every player’s dream to become No. 1 in the world,” Sinner said after his Roland Garros quarter-final win against Grigor Dimitrov, before addressing the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic, which guaranteed his ascent.
“In the other way, seeing Novak retiring here I think is disappointing. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
The Italian had already made history for his country earlier this year by becoming the highest-ranked Italian man in the PIF ATP Rankings (surpassing Adriano Panatta’s career-high ranking of No. 4).
Over the past 52 weeks, during which Sinner has earned the points that helped him to World No. 1, he has tallied a 14-3 record against Top 10 opponents. Nine of his victories during that stretch have come against current or former World No. 1s: Djokovic (3), Alcaraz (1) and Medvedev (5).
Entering last August’s National Bank Open presented by Rogers, Sinner had never lifted an ATP Masters 1000 or major trophy. Since then he has claimed six titles, including Masters 1000 triumphs in Toronto and Miami, as well as his maiden Grand Slam victory at Melbourne Park. His other crowns came at ATP 500 events: Beijing, Vienna and Rotterdam.
One of Sinner’s biggest highlights came at last year’s Nitto ATP Finals, where he competed for the second time. The Italian won his group with an undefeated record before defeating Medvedev to reach the championship match.
On 1 April, Sinner ascended to World No. 2 and now, he will take the final step to the very top of the sport, displacing Djokovic, who has held World No. 1 for more weeks than any player in history (429 by the end of Roland Garros).
Sinner is just the second player born in the 2000s to reach the pinnacle, joining Carlos Alcaraz. Only six active players have ascended to World No. 1: Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Daniil Medvedev, Alcaraz and now Sinner.
The Italian is the second seed at Roland Garros and is pursuing his first title at the clay-court major. He will play Carlos Alcaraz or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
Credit: ATP Tour
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