Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 ATP Finals with an unblemished record in the group stage. His dominant performance ensured that he secured the year-end No. 1 ranking, edging out his main rival, Jannik Sinner, who had also been in contention for the top spot.

Jannik Sinner captured two Major titles in 2025 and was defeated before a tournament final on only two occasions this year—a streak that could either continue or end depending on the outcome of his semifinal match at the ATP Finals. His season was also interrupted by a three-month doping ban, which caused him to miss a significant portion of the calendar.

Despite the obstacles, Sinner remained in contention for the year-end No. 1 ranking until the very end. Here’s a quick overview of their ranking points and how the battle for the top spot unfolded over the course of the season.

Carlos Alcaraz’s heroics on clay helped him cross the initial benchmark set by Jannik Sinner

Neither player participated in any warm-up tournaments ahead of the Australian Open. Jannik Sinner, the defending champion in Melbourne, successfully defended his title, earning 2,000 ranking points for his victory.

Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, exited the Australian Open in the quarterfinals, collecting just 400 points. Sinner’s three-month doping ban began shortly after the tournament, giving Alcaraz an opportunity to close the gap in the rankings. He kicked off his campaign with a title in Rotterdam, earning 500 points—a promising start to his season.

However, Alcaraz was unable to maintain his early-season momentum. He fell in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open, reached the semifinals at the Indian Wells Masters, and suffered a second-round exit at the Miami Open, earning a total of 510 points from these three tournaments.

Despite being sidelined for part of the season, Sinner maintained the lead at the end of the hardcourt swing with 2,000 points, while Alcaraz trailed with 1,410 points. Once the Spaniard transitioned to the clay-court season, he hit the ground running and sustained his remarkable form over the next six months.

Alcaraz kicked off the clay swing by winning the Monte-Carlo Masters. He followed that with a runner-up finish at the Barcelona Open and skipped the Madrid Open due to injury. By the time of the Italian Open, which also marked Sinner’s return to the tour, Alcaraz had added 1,330 points to his tally…

Alcaraz continued to challenge Sinner upon the latter’s return to the tour, but Sinner still managed to accumulate 1,950 points on clay. After the French Open, his season total stood at 3,950 points. However, the lingering disappointment from his French Open heartbreak was evident at his next tournament in Halle. As the defending champion, Sinner was unexpectedly ousted in the second round.