Jannik Sinner changes his tune about reclaiming World No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz with Paris Masters win days after 'impossible' admission

Jannik Sinner laid bare his happiness at reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking with his Paris Masters title triumph. According to Sinner, he knew he had a chance to get back to the summit in the buildup to the year's last Masters 1000 event in the French capital. Just days before though, the Italian had claimed that it would be an impossible task for him to dethrone rival Carlos Alcaraz by the end of the year.

During his pre-tournament press conference at the Paris Masters, Sinner told reporters:

"No, it’s impossible. Honestly, I’m not thinking about this at the moment. It’s going to be a goal for next year. This year it’s not in my hands. Let’s say it like this."

However, following his 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final of the Paris Masters, Jannik Sinner changed his tune, saying:

"Well, it's not only in my hands, but I'm of course happy. I knew from the beginning of the week that there is this chance. But as I said, you know, before the final, before every tournament or before every match, I try to put the best performance I can on the court, and then whatever comes, comes. And this is how I went on court."

"In Turin, I'm going to do the same" - Jannik Sinner looks ahead to ATP Finals campaign

Jannik Sinner during a press conference at the 2025 Paris Masters (Source: Getty)

Jannik Sinner went on to look forward to his chances of success at this year's ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. Last year, the Italian reigned supreme at the year-end event by defeating Taylor Fritz in the final. The year before, Sinner reached the final but had to settle for second-best as Novak Djokovic clinched the title.

The World No. 1 added:

"In Turin, I'm going to do the same. I watch my side, and I just play the best possible tennis I can, and if it's not gonna be, it's not gonna be. The goal of this week was to go day by day, trying to maximize my potential, which I have done for this week, and I'm extremely happy. As I said, now we recharge and hopefully be as ready as possible then for Turin, and we hope for a great tennis week there."

While Sinner, for now, is World No. 1 once more, a lot can still change in terms of the year-end No. 1 ranking depending on how the Italian and rival Carlos Alcaraz fare at the ATP Finals. Interestingly, it was Alcaraz's shocking second-round loss to Cameron Norrie in Paris that paved the way for Sinner to return to pole position in the rankings.

Edited by Sudipto Pati