Tennis Hall of Famer Compares the Levels of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz with the Big 3

No disrespect to Alcaraz, but Sinner was on a three-month ban due to doping, which resulted in him missing four Masters 1000 titles. Hence, the Spaniard got the opportunity to cash in, and he did.

Reason behind Novak Djokovic’s commitment to Athens

Novak Djokovic’s 2025 Grand Slam campaign ended without a 25th major title, but his place among the ATP Tour’s elite is secure. At 38, he was one of only two players – alongside Jannik Sinner – to make the semi-finals at all four Slams this season. He currently sits third in the ATP Race to Turin, behind Sinner and leader Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic has been selective with his schedule this year, choosing rest and family time over a full calendar. While he remains on the entry list for the Shanghai Masters, signs point to him skipping the tournament. Promotional material for the event features Sinner and Alcaraz but not Djokovic, hinting at his likely withdrawal.

Instead, Djokovic has committed to the inaugural Hellenic Championship in Athens, an ATP 250 event running from November 2-8. The tournament replaces Belgrade on the calendar and effectively becomes a home event for Djokovic, who has recently based his family in the Greek capital. Reports suggest a fallout with Serbian authorities played a role in his relocation, with his children now enrolled in a private school in Athens.

This decision raises questions about his participation in the ATP Finals, which start just one day after the Athens event concludes. Like in 2024, Djokovic may opt out of Turin to prioritize family. Outside the regular tour, he is also set to play in the exhibition “Six Kings Slam” in Riyadh from October 15-18.

Points Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have to defend in 2025

The 2025 Grand Slam season wrapped up with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner each securing two titles. Sinner started strong by lifting the Australian Open trophy, while Alcaraz struck back at Roland Garros. The Italian pulled ahead by winning Wimbledon, but the Spaniard closed the year’s majors with the US Open crown. In the process, the two contested three straight Slam finals, an Open Era first, with Sinner reaching all four and Alexander Zverev being the only other finalist.

Although the majors are over, the ATP Tour still has a busy calendar. Two Masters 1000 tournaments remain in Shanghai and Paris, along with four ATP 500 events in Beijing, Tokyo, Basel, and Vienna. Seven ATP 250 tournaments will also take place, including those in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Almaty, Brussels, Stockholm, Athens, and Metz. These events will shape the final ATP Rankings before the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.

Alcaraz and Sinner have already secured their spots in Turin, but both are chasing the year-end No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz leads the standings by 760 points and defends only 1,000 points from last year. His record includes victories in Beijing and early exits in Paris, Shanghai, and the Finals. Sinner, however, must defend 2,830 points after winning Shanghai and the ATP Finals in 2024, along with a runner-up finish in Beijing.

Further down the table, Zverev, Djokovic, Fritz, Shelton, and Draper are fighting for positioning. Zverev has 1,730 points to defend, while Djokovic, who may return in Shanghai, could surpass him. Fritz faces a steep drop after last year’s Finals runner-up run, while Shelton is closing in on him in the American rankings. Draper, who won Vienna in 2024, will lose ground due to injury and the premature end of his season.