Men’s tennis can get by without Jannik Sinner. I’m not trying to detract from the former World No.1’s incredible achievements; I’m just saying that his absence doesn’t change the atmosphere around major events.
The same cannot be said about Carlos Alcaraz. The tennis ecosystem just didn’t feel right during his recent 4½ month injury layoff. Sure, the French Open and Wimbledon Championships happened and were enjoyed. But they lacked the effervescent, infectious magic that Alcaraz brings every time he steps on court. Alcaraz is certainly back in the swing of things now, winning his 4th title of the year at last week’s Vienna Open. While Zverev has already sealed the year-end No.1 ranking, a strong end to the season should set Alcaraz up perfectly for retaining that No.1 ranking in Melbourne next year. In acknowledgment of his Viennese brilliance, here’s my ranking of Alcaraz’s four wins from this season.
4. Qatar Open (ATP 500): bt Arthur Fils (6-2, 6-1)
In what was essentially an encore to his Aussie Open magnum opus, Carlos Alcaraz dominated Doha to win the first of three successive ATP 500 titles for the year. He dropped just one set all week, coming back from a set down against hardened baseliner Karen Khachanov. He then absolutely pulverized Fils in the final, winning 6-2, 6-1 in the shortest recorded victory of his professional career (50 mins). This win just doesn’t have much of a narrative to it. Alcaraz was clearly the best player in the world at this stage, riding high off the back-to-back Grand Slam triumphs in New York and Melbourne: this was just business as usual.
3. Tokyo Open (ATP 500): bt Jiri Lehecka (7-6, 6-4)
Winning begets winning. And sometimes that inability to win can become equally infectious (just look what has happened to Iga Swiatek these past 18 months or so). Alcaraz needed to win a title to soothe the soul following his painful- though enthralling- defeat to Shelton at the US Open. The Ariake Coliseum presented Alcaraz with the perfect opportunity to regain that crucial winning feeling. He never had to face a top-10 player all week, taking down a rogues’ gallery of ATP nearly-men en route to the final (Shapovalov, Michelson, etc). He was far from his vintage best, requiring three sets against Michelson and Munar as he nursed his wrist back into optimum shape. But he came through unscathed, reaching his first final in 4½ months. He then outlasted Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 to win his first title since Doha. Defending the title he won in 2025 probably helped reintroduce a sense of normality to proceedings.
2. Vienna Open (ATP 500): bt Alex de Minaur (6-1, 6-4)
If Tokyo was about getting the winning feeling back; Vienna was about regaining a sense of dominance. I feared for the Spainard when he drew the dangerous Khachanov in his opener (he had pushed Alcaraz to the brink in Doha). But the Murcian magician looked near his best last week, dazzling the Viennese spectators with his typical array of breathless shotmaking. He never dropped a set all week, destroying de Minaur 6-1, 6-4 in the final (he is now 7-0 against the ‘Speed Demon’). Last week marked the first time post-surgery that he looked nigh-on unbeatable. The result extended his incredible ATP 500 winning streak to 26 matches and secured just the 2nd indoor hardcourt title of his career. Once considered a bit of an underachiever on the indoor hardcourts, Alcaraz appears primed for a tilt at both Paris Masters and ATP Finals glory.
1. Australian Open (Grand Slam): bt Novak Djokovic (2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5)
There was never any doubt that this was going to be No.1 on this list. Alcaraz created history with his comeback victory over Djokovic in this year’s Aussie Open, becoming the youngest man to ever complete the Career Grand Slam (he was just 22 years and 272 days old). Alcaraz had always struggled to replicate his best form on the brisker Melbourne surfaces. But a heavily remodelled serve gave him the basis to launch a title offensive, winning him cheap points and more stress-free service games. He showed incredible courage to rescue his semifinal clash against Zverev, overcoming debilitating cramping to claw back a 5-3 deficit in the 5th set. The final felt like the symbolic death-rattle of the ‘Big Three’ era, ushering Djokovic into an era of increasing irrelevance. I’m sure that Alcaraz will be back to his very best by the time January’s title-defence comes around.
Sidenote: The Aussie Open win marked the first time that the Spainard had won a slam without Juan Carlos Ferrero in his corner. Ferrero recently announced a collaboration with Alcaraz’s New York conqueror Ben Shelton, setting the scene for some tasty (and potentially bitter) future duels.
