“Jannik Sinner on the way to breaking Djokovic’s historic record.”

Jannik Sinner is set to challenge the absolute dominance of Novak Djokovic in world tennis, and the race to break the historic ATP points record promises to be the biggest duel in recent times. The young Italian prodigy, the current Wimbledon champion, has reclaimed the top spot in the ATP rankings after a crushing victory against Carlos Alcaraz at the Monte Carlo Masters, a moment that could forever change the landscape of the sport.

With Alcaraz sidelined by a wrist injury, the opportunity for Sinner to capture the only Grand Slam missing from his collection is ripe: Roland Garros, the perfect stage for the Italian to shine on clay and cement his position as an undisputed leader. Additionally, the Rome Masters, taking place on Italian soil, is another tournament where Sinner is favored, with the pressure and support from fans playing in his favor.

If he manages to defend his title at Wimbledon, in an edition that could also be marked by Alcaraz’s absence, Sinner could achieve an unprecedented feat: surpassing Novak Djokovic’s ATP points record, which has stood since June 6, 2016, at a historic total of 16,950 points. To put this into context, Rafael Nadal is second on the list with 15,390 points (2009), followed by Roger Federer, who would accumulate around 15,495 points under the current system, according to estimates.

At this moment, Carlos Alcaraz, who has reached 13,650 points this year, has already been surpassed by Sinner, who continues to accumulate points thanks to his excellent performance at the Madrid Masters. The possibility of consecutively winning Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon would put the Italian on a direct path to dethroning Djokovic and establishing a new standard of excellence in men’s tennis.

Despite the expectations, Sinner keeps his feet firmly on the ground and rejects the pressure of the record: “I never take anything for granted. I try to understand what works best in each condition,” said the tennis player, referring to the differences between the tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, and the clay where he will compete soon. “My motivation is to put myself in the best position to win as many matches as possible. There’s no magic, it’s work and focus.”

The young Italian talent has yet to win the titles in Madrid, Rome, or Roland Garros, but his recent form indicates that a Herculean effort will be required to stop him. Sinner’s dominance is growing, and the world circuit may be witnessing the rise of a new king of tennis.

If Sinner continues on this unstoppable trajectory, Djokovic’s reign could be seriously threatened — and the tennis world is on edge to see if the Italian prodigy will make history in the coming weeks.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.