Carlos Alcaraz Finds it Difficult not to Think About Potentially Overtaking Jannik Sinner as World No.1 at the US Open

Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that it’s hard to take his mind off of overtaking Jannik Sinner at the top of the ATP rankings. Sinner has held the World No.1 spot since June 2024, but he’s got his arch-rival Alcaraz now breathing down his neck at the US Open. The duo are projected to meet in the final for the fifth consecutive tournament in which they have both featured.

Alcaraz was tipped to overtake Sinner during his three-month suspension, but he picked form just weeks before the Italian star’s return to tour. Sinner did well to cement himself at the top of the ATP rankings, but after failing to defend the Cincinnati Open title, he opened the gates for Alcaraz to dream of toppling him.

Alcaraz is in the semi-finals of the US Open. Meanwhile, Sinner will face Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals on Wednesday (September 3). A win over former World No.6 Musetti will not be enough to seal his position at World No.1.

Sinner will have to hope that Alcaraz doesn’t reach the final of the US Open or he eventually defeats the Spaniard in the championship match. Should Sinner and Alcaraz meet in the final, the winner will leave first in the ATP rankings. Currently, Alcaraz leads their head-to-head record 9-5 on tour, and the Spaniard has won three of their last four meetings on tour.

After Alcaraz defeated Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals, he was asked during his on-court interview whether he thinks about his chances of leaving the US Open at the top of the ATP rankings. The World No.2 admitted that it’s difficult for him not to think about it but he’s not willing to put pressure on himself:

It’s really difficult not to think about it. Every time I step on court I try not to think about it. If I think about the No.1 spot too much I’m gonna put pressure on myself. I just want to step on the court and try to do my thing. Follow my goals on the match. Try to enjoy as much as I can. The No.1 is there but I’m trying not to think much about it.

Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated the men’s circuit this season. Last year, they won two Grand Slams each, and this year, Sinner has won two major titles already, while Alcaraz has the French Open title. However, Alcaraz leads 6-2 in their head-to-head record on titles won this season.

Carlos Alcaraz to face Novak Djokovic for the ninth time on tour at the US Open

Carlos Alcaraz produced an excellent performance to beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the US Open. The former World No.1 is yet to drop a set in the tournament, and he’s into the semi-finals of the hard court major for the first time since 2023. He became the youngest player (22 years and 111 days) to reach the semi-finals of all three surfaces in multiple seasons at Grand Slams since 1978.

He also became the youngest man to reach a major tournament semi-final without dropping a set since Rafael Nadal in 2008. He has now reached the last four of nine Grand Slams, and only Nadal, Bjorn Borg, and Boris Becker have reached more men’s singles major semi-finals before turning 23.

Should he claim the US Open title without dropping a set, he will become the first man in the history of the tournament to do so. However, before dreaming of that he will have to beat Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the US Open. The Serbian legend holds a 5-3 lead in their head-to-head record and leads 3-0 in the meetings on hard court.

Also, Djokovic has been to the semi-finals of all the Grand Slams this season and will do everything to reach the final. If he doesn’t reach the US Open final, it will be the first time since 2017 that he has failed to get to the final of a Grand Slam tournament in a season.

Also Read: Naomi Osaka Has Kind Words for ‘Amazing Role Model’ Coco Gauff After Knocking Her Out of US Open

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