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Jannik Sinner set to rise to new career-high ranking of No. 4, tying Italian record

He’ll equal Adriano Panatta and Francesca Schiavone for highest-ranked Italian in either ATP or WTA rankings history.

By John Berkok
MATCH POINT: J. Sinner def. C. Alcaraz; Beijing SF0:37

Jannik Sinner’s 7-6 (4), 6-1 win over No. 2-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals of Beijing today was big for a few reasons—not only did it put him into his fifth ATP final of the year, but it was his second career win over a Top 2 player, having beaten then-No. 1 Alcaraz in Miami in March.

But there’s something more historic about the result.

According to the ATP’s official live rankings, Sinner will now rise from No. 7 to a new career-high of No. 4 win or lose in the final, meaning he’ll tie Adriano Panatta for highest-ranked Italian in ATP rankings history.

ITALIANS TO REACH TOP 10 ON ATP RANKINGS (since 1973):
No. 4: Adriano Panatta [1976]
No. 4: Jannik Sinner [2023—after Beijing]
No. 6: Matteo Berrettini [2022]
No. 7: Corrado Barazzutti [1978]
No. 9: Fabio Fognini [2019]

And there’s even more: the record for highest-ranked Italian in WTA rankings history belongs to Francesca Schiavone, who also went as high as No. 4, so Sinner will actually tie the record for highest-ranked Italian player, male or female, in either ATP or WTA rankings history.

ITALIANS TO REACH TOP 10 ON ATP OR WTA RANKINGS (since 1973 & 1975):
No. 4: Adriano Panatta [1976]
No. 4: Francesca Schiavone [2011]
No. 4: Jannik Sinner [2023—after Beijing]
No. 5: Sara Errani [2013]
No. 6: Flavia Pennetta [2015]
No. 6: Matteo Berrettini [2022]
No. 7: Corrado Barazzutti [1978]
No. 7: Roberta Vinci [2016]
No. 9: Fabio Fognini [2019]

BEIJING, CHINA - OCTOBER 1: Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrating the victroy against Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan on day 6 of the 2023 China Open at National Tennis Center on October 1, 2023 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)
© 2023 Getty Images

Sinner, who will be making his Top 5 debut, also joins a select group in terms of age—the 22-year-old will become just the sixth player born in the 2000s to reach the Top 5 on either the ATP or WTA rankings.

PLAYERS BORN IN 2000 OR LATER TO REACH TOP 5 (ATP or WTA):
Bianca Andreescu [born in 2000, Top 5 debut in 2019]
Iga Swiatek [born in 2001, Top 5 debut in 2021]
Carlos Alcaraz [born in 2003, Top 5 debut in 2022]
Coco Gauff [born in 2004, Top 5 debut in 2022]
Holger Rune [born in 2003, Top 5 debut in 2023]
Jannik Sinner [born in 2001, Top 5 debut in 2023]

Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev for the Beijing title on Wednesday.