Looks like Jannik Sinner is finally back on track. Fresh off his “tough” Vienna Open win, the Italian tennis sensation carried his momentum into the Paris Masters in style. After dispatching Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round, the World No. 2 maintained his rhythm with a commanding 7-5, 6-1 victory over Francisco Cerundolo. The triumph over the Argentine sets up a thrilling quarterfinal clash against Ben Shelton. Yet, even though the odds are in favor of Sinner, the 4x Grand Slam winner himself admits the match will be anything but easy.

Quite understandable feeling, considering he decided to withdraw his participation from the upcoming Davis Cup that is set to take place on November 18–23, all to prioritize his recovery, albeit the backlash. While this was the plan post his Paris Masters campaign, it looks like fatigue has finally caught up to the Italian star.

“I was up twice with the break in the first set. Couldn’t convert. I put myself in an uneasy situation. Happy how I handled the match,” said Sinner after the match, as compiled by @TheTennisLetter on X. The 24-year-old insisted that winning this game only gave him the world of confidence, especially ahead of the crucial quarter-final clash. However, Jannik Sinner isn’t taking the upcoming challenge lightly.

Knowing that every match is different, the Italian ended up citing a potential fatigue scare. “I hope I can recover physically, that’s my main priority,” he added. To ring a bell, the conclusion of the Vienna final saw Jannik Sinner physically struggle. 

Unfortunately, even though there’s no option but to manage his physical state well, the former World No. 1 believes he still isn’t at his best in terms of health. “I’m trying to manage it in the best way, but it’s clear that I’m not at 100%,” added the ATP star. While this seems like a bid to hit the panic button, Sinner is still pushing it.

Considering the fact that his match against Cerundolo finished in under 90 minutes, it was physically tiring nevertheless. “I’m gonna sleep very well tonight,” he added, insisting he will give his all to be ready. He knows the match won’t be as easy as one would expect it to be. “It’s gonna be a really difficult opponent tomorrow. I have to play at 100%. Hopefully, I can do that. We all hope for a great match,” concluded Sinner.

Speaking of his rival, the American star enters the game with an emphatic 7(7)-6(4), 6-3 win over Sinner’s fellow countryman, Flavio Cobolli, followed by a 7(8)-6(6), 6-3 win over Russia’s Andrey Rublev.

It would be interesting to see how the match unfolds, especially since Ben Shelton last tasted impactful success at the Canadian Open. For now, all eyes are on Sinner after Alcaraz’s shocking exit. The 2025 Paris Masters is now one tournament that will not feature a ‘Sincaraz’ summit clash this season. To top this off, Alcaraz’s early exit from the Paris Masters gives Sinner some leeway to climb back to the number one spot in the rankings. But is he pursuing it?

Jannik Sinner drops the ‘No. 1’ dream for good!

The spotlight quickly shifted to Jannik Sinner and his potential to reclaim the World No. 1 ranking with a title run at La Défense Arena. Having recently beaten Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam, Sinner was asked if he still harbored hopes of overtaking the Spaniard this season. His response, however, was realistic: “This year, it’s going to be impossible.”

Having previously reigned at the top for nearly 65 weeks before losing the position following his US Open final defeat, deep down, Sinner knows the chances of a late-season comeback are slim. Still, with Alcaraz’s early exit in Paris, there remains a faint possibility for Sinner to snatch the top spot back, albeit only for a short period.

Even so, during his pre-tournament press conference, Sinner once again emphasized a realistic outlook. “Honestly, I’m not thinking about this right now. It’s a goal for next year—this season, it’s no longer in my hands.”

A fair decision, you think? Well, that’s for you to decide in the comments below.