Shanghai Momentum Reshapes the Race
The ATP Finals in Turin is shaping up to have one of the most competitive qualifying battles in recent memory. With Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Ben Shelton already confirmed for the season-ending event, five spots remain hotly contested. Jannik Sinner qualified but will miss the November tournament through injury, which tightens the field further.
Daniil Medvedev has given himself a significant boost after defeating Tommy Paul in a hard-fought three-set match to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals. That result vaulted him two places up the live Race to Turin standings to sixth position. Spanish rising star Rafael Jodar similarly surged after a grueling quarter-final win over Casper Ruud, climbing to what is effectively eighth place once Sinner's withdrawal is factored in. Jodar's ascent this season has been nothing short of extraordinary: he started 2026 ranked 168th in the world, cracked the top 100 by late March, and was inside the top 50 just weeks later. A quarter-final at Roland Garros pushed him to 23rd, and his momentum has barely slowed.
Djokovic Looks to Paris to Stay in Contention
Novak Djokovic had given himself real hope by winning the China Open title a fortnight ago, but a second-round loss in Shanghai to Hubert Hurkacz cost him two places, leaving him 11th in the standings (effectively 10th after Sinner's withdrawal). Djokovic has openly expressed his desire to return to Turin after missing the last two editions, and he confirmed plans to compete at the Paris Masters, where 1,000 ranking points will be available.
The gap from fifth-placed Flavio Cobolli down to 15th-placed Felix Auger-Aliassime is just 1,075 points, meaning every match in the coming weeks matters enormously. TennisDraw users have been closely tracking Jodar as one of the most exciting bracket wildcards heading into the final stretch of 2026.
