Four ATP players with a big point to prove in the 2026 season

Tommy Paul

Tommy Paul enjoyed a fine start to the 2025 season, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and French Open.

But he failed to claim a title after that early momentum, and ended the season ranked 20th on the ATP Tour.

Some American hopes for an elusive Grand Slam title were once pinned on Paul, but that focus has since switched to the likes of Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz.

Frances Tiafoe

Paul’s fellow American Frances Tiafoe is another who really needs to up his overall game in the 2026 season.

He has dropped all the way down to 30th in the world rankings, a decline he really would not have wanted or expected in 2025.

Promise was shown with a French Open quarterfinal run, but he should still be entering 2026 with a feeling of needing to prove a big point.

Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev once climbed to number one in the ATP rankings, and claimed the highest honor at the 2021 US Open.

Fast-forward to the upcoming 2026 campaign and the Russian is 13th in the world, and in need of a big season to bring himself back into contention on the ATP Tour.

He particularly needs to show up at Grand Slam level, with his second round exit at the Australian Open remarkably representing his longest run in 2025.

Alexander Zverev

Given that he is currently ranked third in the world, Alexander Zverev has a different point to prove entirely.

The German is behind only Alcaraz and Sinner in the world rankings, and so is the closest rival to the two in the most literal sense.

But he should be trying to overtake at least one of them next season, rather than letting them continue their dominance.

Moreover, Zverev has Novak Djokovic breathing down his neck, but should not be letting the 38-year-old get near his world number three status.