How Sinner can pass Medvedev, Alcaraz for World No. 2

Peter Staples/ATP Tour

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner has an opportunity to seize World No. 3 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Daniil Medvedev this week and a chance to make a move on Carlos Alcaraz’s No. 2 spot in the weeks ahead.

If Sinner wins this week’s ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, he will move to World No. 3. The 500 points he would earn would push him to 8,270 points, five more than Medvedev’s 8,265 according to the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

The accomplishment would make Sinner the standalone highest-ranked Italian player in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings (since 1973). The 22-year-old currently shares the mark with Adriano Panatta, who reached World No. 4 in 1976.

Pepperstone ATP Rankings points to defend through Miami

Sinner has won 22 of his past 23 matches leading into the Rotterdam quarter-finals. If he maintains his form, he could threaten Alcaraz’s World No. 2 standing.

Between now and the end of Miami, Sinner is defending 1,260 points and Alcaraz 1,910 points. With all those points dropped, Sinner would only trail his rival by 535 points. 

That would give Sinner an opportunity to make a move if he continues his surge. A big chance could come as soon as Indian Wells, where Alcaraz will defend 1,000 points and Sinner just 360.

It will be tough for Medvedev to keep pace in the coming weeks, as he will drop 2,850 points by the end of Miami. Last year he triumphed in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai and Miami.