Alexander Zverev is closing the gap on Jannik Sinner after winning the 2026 US Open. Here is what separates the two players in the ATP rankings and year-end race.
Alexander Zverev has spent years chasing the top of men’s tennis. After finally winning his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros in June, the German has now added a second major at the US Open and suddenly finds himself much closer to Jannik Sinner in the ATP rankings. The gap is still significant, but Zverev has created a genuine battle for the No. 1 position heading into the final months of 2026. After his US Open triumph, he moved to 9,690 ranking points, while Sinner remained at No. 1 with 11,500. That leaves Zverev 1,810 points behind the Italian.
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How Close Is Alexander Zverev to Sinner?
The biggest change came in New York. Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets to win the US Open, earning 2,000 ranking points and completing his second Grand Slam victory of the season. Sinner, meanwhile, missed the US Open because of a knee injury. His absence meant he could not defend the points he earned from his run in New York last year, allowing Zverev to make significant ground at the top.
There is also an important difference between the official ATP rankings and the year-end race. Zverev has already moved ahead of Sinner in the 2026 Live Race to Turin. He has 8,650 points compared with Sinner’s 7,950, putting him 700 points clear in the race for the year-end No. 1 position.
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What Does Alexander Zverev Need to Do?
Zverev’s biggest advantage is the amount of ranking points each player has left to defend. According to the ATP, Zverev is scheduled to drop only 1,080 points for the remainder of the season, while Sinner is due to drop 3,550. That difference does not automatically put Zverev at No. 1. The German still needs to keep collecting points while Sinner has an opportunity to protect his position through his remaining tournaments. The final Masters 1000 events and the Nitto ATP Finals will therefore become particularly important as the season reaches its conclusion.
Zverev’s form gives him plenty of momentum. He is now 25 and ranked No. 2 at Grand Slam tournaments in 2026 after winning Roland Garros and the US Open, while also reaching the Wimbledon final.
Can Sinner Hold on to No. 1?
Sinner still has a substantial lead in the official rankings, and the Italian has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals alongside Zverev. The remaining tournaments will determine how much of that advantage survives. For Zverev, the equation is relatively straightforward: continue earning points while taking advantage of the points Sinner has to defend. For Sinner, maintaining the No. 1 position will depend on how quickly he returns and how many points he can collect during the final stretch of the season. The German has already gone from chasing his first Grand Slam to leading the Live Race in just a few months. Now, the question is whether his surge can carry him all the way to the top of the official ATP rankings before 2026 ends.
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