The Italian Open is poised to be a pivotal tournament for the ATP rankings, with several top players facing the pressure of defending significant points. As the clay-court season intensifies, the players will be battling not only for the title but also to maintain or improve their positions in the rankings. Here’s a breakdown of the points situation for Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper at the 2025 Italian Open.
Sinner’s Homecoming and Ranking Defense
Jannik Sinner, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, is returning to the ATP Tour after a three-month absence. Sinner’s last tournament was the 2025 Australian Open. He is coming off a three-month suspension from the World Anti-Doping Agency. Despite not competing for over three months, Sinner remains at No. 1. He has held the No. 1 position since the end of the 2024 French Open.
Sinner missed the Italian Open last year due to injury, meaning he has no points to defend. This also means that Sinner is guaranteed to remain No. 1 through the end of the Italian Open. Sinner is on 9,730 points in the latest ATP rankings, a 1,645-point lead over Zverev. According to the current entry list, Sinner is seeded No. 1 for the Italian Open.
Alcaraz Aims to Climb
Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 3, also missed the Italian Open last year due to injury. He will be competing in Rome for only the second time. In his only previous appearance in 2023, he lost in the third round to Fabian Marozsan.
Like Sinner, Alcaraz has no points to defend in Rome. Alcaraz is seeded to meet Jack Draper in the quarter-finals. Alcaraz sustained an adductor injury during his championship-match run in Barcelona, and he hopes to bounce back in Rome. Even if Alcaraz wins the title, it might not be enough to overtake Sinner.
Zverev Defends His Title
Alexander Zverev, the defending champion at the Italian Open, faces the most pressure of the top players. Last year, Zverev defeated Nicolas Jarry in straight sets to win the title. As defending champion, Zverev has 1000 points to defend. Zverev cannot add any ranking points in Rome.
Zverev has already secured a top-four seeding for the French Open. He is now No. 4 in the PIF ATP rankings, his highest position since August 2022. After claiming the Italian Open title in 2024, Zverev climbed one spot to fourth position in the ATP rankings. According to the current entry list, Zverev is seeded No. 2 for the Italian Open.
Djokovic’s Ranking in Jeopardy
Novak Djokovic has had a disappointing start to the clay-court season. He failed to win a match at the Monte-Carlo Masters or the Madrid Open. As a result, Djokovic has dropped to No. 6 in the rankings.
Djokovic has withdrawn from the Italian Open. Last year, Djokovic had a disappointing campaign at the Italian Open, winning just one match. Djokovic did not give a specific reason for his withdrawal. He seems to have re-evaluated his plan of playing more tournaments in 2025. He may be taking an extended period off before the French Open.
Draper’s Ascent and Opportunity
Jack Draper is now at a career-high ranking of No. 5 after a strong start to the 2025 season. He finished as runner-up to Casper Ruud at the Madrid Open. Draper replaced Djokovic at No. 5.
Draper is seeded to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. The Italian Open gets underway this week. Draper has a bye in the first round and will face either Yunchaokete Bu or Luciano Darderi in the second round.
Impact on the Rankings
The Italian Open is the final major clay-court tournament before the French Open, making it a crucial opportunity for players to fine-tune their game and secure valuable ranking points. The outcome of the tournament could significantly impact the top positions in the ATP rankings, setting the stage for an exciting Roland Garros.
With Sinner returning from a hiatus, Alcaraz looking to find his form, Zverev defending his title, Djokovic absent, and Draper aiming to continue his ascent, the Italian Open promises to be a thrilling and consequential event.
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