Sinner on the Fast Track to Supplanting Alcaraz at No.2

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 5, 2024

Jannik Sinner is in pole position to pass Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings.

At the BNP Paribas Open the Italian is technically already in front of his Spanish rival. In the live rankings Alcaraz has already dropped his 1000 points from winning the title at Indian Wells last year. Sinner drops 360 from reaching the semifinals, but is still currently ahead of Alcaraz by 105 points.

Sinner last ranked ahead of Alcaraz on March 21st, 2022, but the Spaniard went on a tear after that and would reach No.1 in September of that same year.

The Italian became the highest ranked man in his nation’s history after the Australian Open when he reached No.2.

A more graphical way to show the Battle for #2

– Medvedev needs to win and Alcaraz and Sinner to not make SF.
– Alcaraz needs to reach at least the QF and outperform Sinner by 2 rounds and Medvedev to not win (or reach the SF).
– Sinner and Alcaraz might battle for it in the SF. pic.twitter.com/Vkv0HFPhxq

— Open Era Rankings (@OpenEraRankings) March 5, 2024

Alcaraz has held a Top 2 ranking since September of 2022, when he rose to No.1 for the first time. He will need to outperform Sinner by 105 points at Indian Wells to remain there.

Alcaraz, seeded No.2, will face either Matteo Arnaldi or Luca Van Assche in the second round at Indian Wells; Sinner, seeded third, will face Thanasi Kokkinakis or Marcos Giron in the second half.

Sinner and Alcaraz are in the lower half of the men’s singles draw, opposite top-seeded Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal.