Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Rome Open title by defeating Jannik Sinner and reclaimed the No. 2 spot in the ATP Rankings.
The tennis world turned its attention to Rome on Sunday, May 18, as Carlos Alcaraz faced Jannik Sinner in the highly anticipated Rome Open final. Despite being the home favorite, Sinner couldn’t secure the win in front of his Italian fans.
The match started with a tightly contested first set, showcasing the skill and resilience of two of the sport’s brightest stars. Alcaraz edged Sinner in a nail-biting tiebreak, 7-6(7-5). In the second set, however, the Spaniard’s superior match sharpness shone through as he dominated the World No. 1 with a decisive 6-1 victory.
Alcaraz’s triumph led to significant changes in the ATP Rankings, starting with a major shift in the top three. The victory propelled Alcaraz back to the No. 2 spot, reclaiming his position as Jannik Sinner’s closest challenger at the top.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Alexander Zverev dropped to No. 3 after a string of lackluster performances. The gap between Zverev and the 22-year-old Spaniard has widened, further solidifying Alcaraz’s standing as the primary contender for the top spot.
Carlos Alcaraz poses with the trophy as he celebrates victory alongside runner up Jannik Sinner following the Rome Open final. (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
More changes in the ATP Rankings
Elsewhere in the rankings, American Taylor Fritz held steady at No. 4, but his lead over Britain’s Jack Draper, who remains at No. 5, has narrowed. Draper gained ground with recent strong performances, putting pressure on Fritz as the race for the top spots intensifies.
Novak Djokovic, hampered by ongoing physical struggles, maintained his position at No. 6. While many still consider the Serbian legend one of the greatest of all time, his recent form has kept him out of the conversation for the top rankings.
The lower half of the top 10 saw some movement as well. Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti climbed to a career-high No. 8 after an impressive 2025 season. Musetti’s rise pushed Australia’s Alex de Miñaur down to No. 9, while Denmark’s Holger Rune remained in the No. 10 spot to round out the elite group.
Current ATP Rankings
1- Jannik Sinner: 10,380 points
2- Carlos Alcaraz: 8,850 points
3- Alexander Zverev: 7,285 points
4- Taylor Fritz: 4,625 points
5- Jack Draper: 4,610 points
6- Novak Djokovic: 4,080 points
7- Casper Ruud: 3,905 points
8- Lorenzo Musetti: 3,860 points
9- Alex de Miñaur: 3,635 points
10- Holger Rune: 3,440 points
These data were sourced from the official ATP Tour website.
The ATP Tour turns its attention to Roland Garros
With the clay season in full swing, the ATP Tour is gearing up for the year’s second Grand Slam: Roland Garros. While many top players opt to rest and fine-tune their game in the days leading up to the French Open, others, including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, have chosen a different route.
Djokovic and Zverev are using competitive matches as part of their final preparations, participating in the ATP 250 in Geneva and the ATP 500 in Hamburg, respectively. Both tournaments are already underway and are set to conclude just a day before Roland Garros kicks off, offering a last-minute opportunity for fine-tuning on clay.
