German well positioned in bid to reach World No. 1 for the first time

There is more than just a second major title on the line for Alexander Zverev this weekend at the US Open.

The top seed at the hard-court Grand Slam event in New York will take on Karen Khachanov on Friday afternoon, when he has the chance to reach his third consecutive major championship match. If he defeats Khachanov, Zverev will also tie Jannik Sinner in first place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

As the Live Race is also a barometer for the battle for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, the tail end of this US Open represents a significant opportunity for Zverev in his bid to become World No. 1 for the first time. While he can tie Sinner on 7,950 points in the Live Race by defeating Khachanov, he could then move 700 points clear of the Italian by going on to lift the trophy in New York.

Zverev, who first reached World No. 2 in June 2022, has already joined Sinner in qualifying for this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, where he is a two-time titlist. Yet the 29-year-old will know he can afford little let up for in the coming weeks if he wants to become the 30th No. 1 player in PIF ATP Rankings history, or challenge for Year-End No. 1 honours. Zverev is still a hefty 3,010 points behind Sinner in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, but the Live Race shows that if he maintains his excellent form, he could be in a position to challenge the Italian as the year continues.

Carlos Alcaraz, who returned to action at the US Open after four months out with a wrist injury, has bolstered his position in third in the Live Race by acquiring 400 points for his quarter-final run. Yet the man he fell to in an epic five-set battle in New York, Ben Shelton, is now just 120 points behind the Spaniard, and would leapfrog him if he can defeat his fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the last four. The 23-year-old Shelton is chasing his second consecutive Nitto ATP Finals appearance after his 2025 debut.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 10 September 2026)

 Player  Points
 1) Jannik Sinner  7,950 (qualified)
 2) Alexander Zverev  7,450 (qualified)
 3) Carlos Alcaraz  4,050
 4) Ben Shelton  3,930
 5) Flavio Cobolli  3,530
 6) Frances Tiafoe  3,330
 7) Arthur Fils  3,150
 8) Daniil Medvedev  2,780
 9) Rafael Jodar  2,509
 10) Taylor Fritz  2,480

Like Shelton, Tiafoe has risen two spots in the Live Race as a result of his exploits at Flushing Meadows so far. The 28-year-old, who is chasing a debut appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, is up to sixth and would overtake fifth-placed Flavio Cobolli by downing Shelton to reach his first Grand Slam championship match. Tiafoe could bolster his hopes of a Turin breakthrough further with a fairy tale triumph at his home Slam: He will move to 4,530 points if he wins the US Open title, a tally which would also lift him above Shelton and Alcaraz into third.

The other notable Live Race winner from the US Open has been Tommy Paul, who has surged five spots to 11th after reaching the fourth round. Paul is now on 2,385 points, just 395 short of Daniil Medvedev, who is the current occupant of the eighth and final qualifying position

The field for Turin, where the Nitto ATP Finals will be held from 15 to 22 November, has the potential to have a new feel to it this year. Paul is one of five players currently in the top 11 spots in the Live Race that are chasing a debut appearance at the prestigious season finale: The others are fifth-placed Cobolli, sixth-placed Tiafoe, seventh-placed Arthur Fils and ninth-placed Rafael Jodar.