Alcaraz’s shock US Open exit leaves Sinner with big opportunity in Live Race

Carlos Alcaraz’s unexpected second-round defeat at the US Open has presented Jannik Sinner with a big opportunity to extend his advantage in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

Sinner (7,100 points) holds a healthy 1,090-point lead over second-placed Alcaraz in the Live Race, which is also an indicator of who is in the running to finish as ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. After Alcaraz fell to a shock second-round defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp on Thursday night, the World No. 1 Sinner knows he could extend his Live Race lead from Alcaraz to 2,990 points by lifting the trophy at the hard-court major.

Pure SINNER-MA ?

World No. 1 @janniksin notches his 50th win of the season with a scintillating 6-4 6-0 6-2 demolition job over Michelsen! @usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/kEEpyCCSs4

With Alexander Zverev still alive in the New York draw, Sinner must still reach his maiden US Open semi-final to guarantee he remains in top spot once the hard-court major is done. If Sinner loses in the fourth round or at the quarter-final stage, the third-placed Zverev could claim the Live Race lead by claiming his maiden major title. The German will jump above Alcaraz into second if he reaches at least the quarter-finals.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin

The five players behind Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev in the Live Race all remain in contention at the US Open. They include seventh-placed Novak Djokovic, who has eased into the third round at Flushing Meadows as he chases his record-extending 25th Grand Slam men’s singles title. Should the Serbian achieve that feat, it would also boost his standing in the Live Race: the seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion could rise as high as fourth by clinching the title in New York.

Alex de Minaur (3,005 points) consolidated eighth place by beating Otto Virtanen to reach the third round. Ninth-placed Stefanos Tsitsipas made a first-round exit in New York, but there are three players within 500 points of De Minaur still alive at Flushing Meadows.

Home favourites Taylor Fritz (2,690 points) and Tommy Paul (2,635 points), as well as Grigor Dimitrov (2,535 points) will all be eying deeper runs to ramp up the pressure on the Australian, who currently holds the final qualification spot for the Nitto ATP Finals. In 14th, Lorenzo Musetti is also in contention. The Italian is on 2,225 points, 780 behind De Minaur.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]