Following the US Open, there are three key tournaments if Zverev wants to become world No. 1 for the first time. The ATP Masters 1000 events in Shanghai (People’s Republic of China) and Paris (France) will be crucial, especially if Sinner is not fit in time.
Zverev clinched the Paris Masters crown in 2024, but Sinner is strongest on an indoor hard court. The key caveat is that the Italian has almost 3,000 more points to defend than the German after the US Open.
The final event of the season that gives out points is the ATP Finals, the year-end finals for the eight best players of the calendar year. Zverev earned his spot in Turin last month and will go for a third Finals title of his career in November.
A champion who wins all of his matches, a maximum of five matches, earns 1,500 points in the men’s singles rankings. With all the points on offer and plenty of tennis to play, the race for number one could go down to the wire.
