Sinner opts not to defend Vienna title, opening door in year-end No 1 race
Sinner will not play between the Shanghai and Paris Masters
Jannik Sinner
Image Credit: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Jannik Sinner will not defend his Vienna Open title in 2024, with the Italian opting to rest between the Shanghai Masters and Paris Masters.
Sinner won the event in 2023, defeating top seed Daniil Medvedev in the final. However, with 61 matches played already this year, and the 22-year-old already qualified for the ATP Finals, he has chosen not to return.
The world No 1 will play just four more events this season, after the China Open:
- Shanghai Masters
- Paris Masters
- Nitto ATP Finals
- Davis Cup Final 8
With just three of these events offering ranking points, Sinner’s decision not to compete between Shanghai and Paris ever so slightly opens the door for either Alexander Zverev or Carlos Alcaraz to finish the year as world No 1.
Update on the race for year-end No 1
Sinner currently holds a healthy lead in the ATP rankings:
- Sinner – 11,180 points
- Zverev – 6,875 points
- Alcaraz – 6,690 points
However, Sinner has a wealth of points to defend over the next two months, and electing not to compete in Vienna won’t help. Here’s how the current Race to Turin looks, which gives a clearer picture of how many points Sinner has dropping off:
- Sinner – 9,050 points
- Zverev – 6,115 points
- Alcaraz – 6,010 points
This time last year, Sinner won both the China Open and Vienna Open, plus made the final of the ATP Finals. He did, however, only make the round of 16 at both Masters events.
With Sinner holding a buffer of almost 3,000 points over Zverev and Alcaraz, it would take a drastic shift in form for the Italian not to finish the year No 1. However, his absence in Vienna at least gives his rivals a sliver of hope. If either go unbeaten between now and the end of the season, they will give themselves a chance of finishing in top spot.
