Alexander Zverev has become the big winner on a day of dramatically contrasting fortunes for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner by learning he'll be the end-of-year world No.1 in men's tennis.
Alcaraz roared back on Tuesday to win his first title in nearly eight months at the Japan Open, while his great rival Jannik Sinner announced he's ending his season through injury, a decision that will condemn him to losing the top spot.
It felt poignant on the day when Sinner finally gave up on a 2026 campaign which had begun in such amazing fashion for him but has now ended with a concerning knee injury that Alcaraz should demonstrate he's truly back following his long-standing wrist trouble by defeating Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in Tokyo.
