The sun is setting on the 2025 season, and Jannik Sinner just grabbed one more hurrah! The Italian wrapped up his campaign at the Vienna Open with a win over Alexander Zverev. He now holds four titles this season, including two at Grand Slams. The list of his achievements is no less impressive. He extends his 21‑match win streak on indoor hard courts, running from 2023 to 2025. He also just became the only player since Novak Djokovic in 2015‑2016 to reach eight straight finals in one season.

However, he did lose his No.1 ranking after 65 weeks to rival Carlos Alcaraz this year, following his US Open final loss in September. Now, with another trophy in his hands and the upcoming Masters in Paris, the question remains: What are his chances of taking back the crown before the year-end? Let’s find out!

Could Jannik Sinner win the year-end No.1 title?

After the Vienna Open, tennis journalist Jose Morgado shared the updated ATP rankings on X, and the numbers set the stage for an exciting finish to the season. Unsurprisingly, Alcaraz sits at No.1 with 11,340 points, followed closely by Sinner at 10,500. Alexander Zverev holds the No.3 spot with 6,160, followed by Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, and Alex de Minaur, rounding out the top six. The rest of the Top 10 includes Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti, Casper Ruud, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The battle for the top ranking is wide open heading into Paris. But the possibility of the Italian reclaiming the No.1 spot? It’s real. If Sinner wins the Masters 1000 event and Alcaraz falls before the semifinals, the Italian will briefly return to World No.1. But there’s a catch. The triumph would only last a week before the ATP Finals points reset shakes up the standings again. It’s been a chase between the two players for most of this season.

A look at Sinner’s rivalry with Alcaraz this season

While Sinner served a three-month WADA suspension from February to May, Carlos Alcaraz was busy taking over the season. The Spaniard climbed from World No.3, overtaking Alexander Zverev after winning Monte Carlo in April, right after lifting his first Rotterdam title in February. By May 4, when Sinner’s ban ended, Alcaraz had already closed in fast. Their first clash back came at the Italian Open final, where Alcaraz dominated in straight sets and cut into the ranking gap.

Paris brought the fireworks next. The French Open final turned into an instant classic that went five long sets, with Alcaraz emerging as the champion to claim his third straight title after the HSBC Championships. It seemed like Carlos could do no wrong. But then came Wimbledon, where Jannik Sinner captured his first title at the All England Club, reclaiming pride and precious ranking points. Yet the real tension brewed before the US swing, with Cincinnati looming large for Sinner’s title defense.

That Cincinnati showdown was supposed to be another thriller, but ended abruptly when Jannik Sinner retired early in the first set. Carlos claimed another win, then marched into New York to defend his US Open crown, defeating Jannik Sinner again and reclaiming the No.1 ranking. From there, the numbers told the story: the Spaniard led by 2,540 points in the ATP Live Race to Turin. Sinner wasn’t out of it yet, but he needed nothing short of perfection to catch him.

Still, the Italian hadn’t backed down. He went on to win the China Open over Learner Tien, while Alcaraz captured the Japan Open before withdrawing from Shanghai with an ankle injury. Sinner seized that moment to defend his title and now trails by just 840 points after taking the Vienna crown. With Paris up next, 1,000 points are on the table, and a win could launch him back to No.1, even if briefly. But even the Italian has his thoughts on reclaiming the ranking for the end of the season.

Jannik Sinner clarifies his thoughts on the Year-End Title

Last year was a pure fire for Jannik Sinner. The Italian’s 2024 run felt unstoppable, even with the uncertainty of that lingering doping controversy that had followed him since March. Somehow, he blocked out all the noise and produced one of the greatest seasons on tour. Eight titles in total: the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, the US Open, Shanghai, and the Nitto ATP Finals — across hard courts and grass alike. He finished the year as World No. 1, earning 9,730 points after a ridiculous 65-6 record, seven titles in eight finals, and a 22-1 tear from the Cincinnati Masters onward.

Fast forward to 2025, and the story feels a little different. Sinner admitted this week in Vienna that chasing another Year-End No. 1 is probably out of reach. “For me, the end of the year is very important. I’m very lucky because the ATP Finals are in Italy and this gives me a lot of energy with my home people… This year, it’s going to be impossible,” he said. Still, he’s not giving up. After all, he’s already taken care of Vienna, and next up is Paris before wrapping things up in Riyadh.

In total, the four-time Grand Slam champion could collect up to 3,000 points between the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. Now, the spotlight shifts to Paris. With a first-round bye, Jannik Sinner will face either Alex Michelsen or Zizou Bergs in his opener. The stakes are high, and the tension’s back on. Can the Italian make his ninth final of the season and somehow reclaim that No. 1 magic?