ATP Race to Turin: Jannik Sinner continues lead, Novak Djokovic still out of top 8 ahead of Asian swing
With the ATP calendar reaching its last stretch in 2024, players will be looking to obtain as many points as possible to be in the top 8 for the prestigious, year-ending ATP Finals. The event will take place in Turin from November 11.
Three out of the eight spots have been confirmed for the year-ending championships. After his record-breaking season, Jannik Sinner leads the ATP Race Rankings with 9000 points. The Italian has won six titles, including both the hard-court Majors of the year. Alexander Zverev is second on the list with 6115 points. The German has reached three finals (including the French Open) this season, capturing one title in Rome.
Carlos Alcaraz is the third player on the ATP Race rankings, with a current tally of 6010 points. The Spaniard has won three titles this year, including two Majors, and completed the Channel Slam.
However, ahead of the Asian phase of the ATP calendar that begins mid-September, seven-time winner Novak Djokovic still finds himself out of the top 8 of the Race Rankings. The Serb has endured an underwhelming season by his standards, with no title on the ATP Tour this year. His sole triumph came at the Paris Olympics, where the 24-time Major winner won his maiden gold medal.
Djokovic currently stands in the ninth position on the race Rankings with 3260 points, 45 points away from eighth-placed Alex De Minaur.
With Djokovic not prioritizing the ATP finals and the Race Rankings, the other players have an opportunity to qualify
Novak Djokovic was vocal about his future schedule and playing commitments at the 2024 Davis Cup. The Serb was categorical in stating that securing a spot in the top 8 for the ATP Finals was not his priority, and he would focus mainly on playing the Grand Slams and keeping his national commitments for Serbia.
This will encourage other players to vie for the last spots in the top eight of the Race Rankings. Daniil Medvedev (4420 points), Taylor Fritz (3890 points), Casper Ruud (3795 points), Andrey Rublev (3480 points), and Alex de Minaur (3305 points) round up the top 8 on the Race rankings. 10th-placed Grigor Dimitrov and 11-placed Tommay Paul are close to the top 8 and will attempt to qualify.
The cutoff for qualification has been set at 5580 points. The season still has five ATP 250 events, four ATP 500 events, and two ATP 1000 events in Shanghai and Paris left on the calendar. These tournaments will give ample opportunity to all the players within the top 20 of the Race Rankings to secure a position in the Top 8.