Zverev closes in on Sinner at the top of tennis

Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina officially claimed the top spot in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings after winning the US Open title, ending Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at number one. Meanwhile, German Alexander Zverev closed the gap on Italian Jannik Sinner in the race for the men’s number one ranking after capturing the Flushing Meadows title by defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2.

Rybakina became the first player from her country to reach number one, and the 30th player of any nationality to hold the top position since the WTA rankings were introduced in 1975, after defeating Sabalenka in the final and denying the Belarusian a third consecutive title.

In the men’s draw, Zverev moved closer to Sinner, who missed the US Open due to injury, while Serbian Novak Djokovic fell out of the top ten.

By reaching his first Grand Slam final, American Ben Shelton jumped five spots to fourth, marking the best ranking of his 23-year-old career.

Before the final Grand Slam of the season, Zverev trailed Sinner by more than 5,010 points, but he narrowed the gap to 1,810 points after Sinner lost the points he earned from reaching last year’s final.

Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, who was eliminated in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows while defending his title, remained third but led only Shelton, who is fourth, by 880 points, down from a 2,520-point advantage over his former rival, Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, who dropped to fifth.

Meanwhile, Djokovic, who exited in the first round, fell out of the top ten to twelfth (-7), for the first time since July 17, 2018.

For the first time since October 13, 2002—nearly 24 years ago—the top ten does not include any member of “The Big Three,” comprising Djokovic and former stars Swiss Roger Federer and Spanish Rafael Nadal.

Men’s Top Ten Rankings:

1. Jannik Sinner (Italy) – 11,500 points

2. Alexander Zverev (Germany) – 9,690

3. Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) – 5,560

4. Ben Shelton (United States) – 4,680 (+5)

5. Félix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) – 3,890 (-1)

6. Daniil Medvedev (Russia) – 3,770 (+1)

7. Flavio Cobolli (Italy) – 3,720 (-1)

8. Frances Tiafoe (United States) – 3,380 (+1)

9. Alex de Minaur (Australia) – 3,300 (-2)

10. Taylor Fritz (United States) – 3,175