What the ATP top ten would look like if tennis was only played on grass courts

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The 2024 ATP year-end top ten is now set in stone, but things would look very different if tennis was only played on grass courts.

There was no one better than Jannik Sinner on the ATP Tour this year, as he won his first two Grand Slam titles.

The Italian holds a comfortable lead over Alexander Zverev who tops Carlos Alcaraz by just under 1000 points.

Taylor Fritz reached his first Grand Slam final in New York, as he reached a career-high of fourth in the world.

24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic played a shorter schedule in 2024, as he finished as world number seven.

The tennis season is played on three surfaces, and whilst Sinner would remain number one if tennis was only played on hard courts, what would the top ten look like if it was just the grass-court season that counted?

2024 ATP year-end top ten if tennis was only played on grass courts

The grass court season is the shortest on the ATP calendar, with only eight tournaments played in 2024 between June and July.

Even in such a short time-frame, there are a few familiar faces that rise to the top.

1. Carlos Alcaraz (ATP ranking 3) – 2,050 points

The reigning Queen’s and Wimbledon champion didn’t get off to the best start on the grass this year as he was dumped out of Queen’s in the second round by Britain’s Jack Draper.

He only played one other tournament on grass in 2024, and made it count as he brought home his second consecutive Wimbledon title.

It’s hard to argue against the Spaniard being the best player on the surface right now, and he’ll be tough to beat in the new year.

2. Novak Djokovic (ATP ranking 7) – 1,300 points

Wimbledon was Djokovic’s only tournament on grass this year, but his quality and experience shone through as he reached the final once more.

As was the case last year, the Serb couldn’t quite get the better of his younger rival, but still amassed more points on the surface than any other player.

With grass-court specialist Andy Murray joining Djokovic next year, it will be interesting to see if he can finally get his hands back on the Wimbledon trophy.

3. Lorenzo Musetti (ATP ranking 17) – 1,230 points

A huge mover from the ‘real’ ATP rankings, Lorenzo Musetti jumps 14 places to third in the grass court top-ten.

The Italian played in three tournaments on the surface as he quickly established himself as a real threat on grass.

A final at Queen’s was followed by a semi-final appearance at Wimbledon, having battled past Fritz in a thrilling five-set quarter-final.

4. Tommy Paul (ATP ranking 12) – 950 points

Another to have finished outside of the world’s top ten that impressed on grass was Tommy Paul, who took home the Queen’s title dropping just one set.

The American looked in imperious form heading into Wimbledon, but couldn’t replicate Alcaraz’s ‘double’ from the year prior as he was knocked out by the Spaniard in the quarter finals.

At 27, Paul may well be entering his prime and will be looking to push on next year and achieve even more success on the green stuff.

5. Jannik Sinner (ATP ranking 1) – 900 points

There aren’t many rankings that Sinner doesn’t sit atop of, but his performances on grass weren’t quite enough this year.

Granted, he did win an ATP 500 title in Halle, a mightily impressive feat, but his quarter-final exit to Daniil Medvedev was majorly disappointing.

He’ll want to add both Wimbledon and the French Open to his Grand Slam trophy cabinet next year, and you wouldn’t put it past him to do so.

6. Daniil Medvedev (ATP ranking 5) – 850 points

The man who knocked Sinner out of Wimbledon, Medvedev matched his best-ever performance at the tournament this year.

Prior to 2023, the Russian had never been pasted the fourth round at SW19, but has now reached the last four in back-to-back seasons.

He may not quite have the game to best the likes of Djokovic and Alcaraz, but the 28-year-old has quietly become one of the surface’s most dangerous players.

7. Taylor Fritz (ATP ranking 4) – 750 points

Fritz enjoyed the best year of his career in 2024, and continued to show just how dangerous he can be on grass.

Winning a record third Eastbourne title, put the American in great shape ahead of Wimbledon as he looked to reach the last four for the first time.

It wasn’t to be, however, as he lost out to Musetti in the aforementioned five-set thriller, falling at the quarter-final stage for the second time in three years.

8. Alex de Minaur (ATP ranking 9) – 650 points

Alex de Minaur was one of a select few players that took home a grass court title in 2024, as he won the Rosmalen Open in the Netherlands.

He followed that up with a strong first week in Wimbledon before De Minaur withdrew from his quarter-final match with Djokovic due to injury.

Nevertheless, it was still an impressive performance for the Aussie, who will no doubt be determined to do big things next year.

9. Alejandro Tabilo (ATP ranking 23) – 400 points

Alejandro Tabilo proved his talents on all surfaces in 2024, as he reached finals on clay, grass, and hard courts.

It was on the Mallorcan grass where Tabilo won his second ATP title this year, as he established himself as a solid contender on the surface.

He’ll be looking to improve at Wimbledon next year, however, as the Chilean was knocked out in the third round.

10. Alexander Zverev (ATP ranking 2) – 400 points

For all his success on the ATP Tour, Zverev hasn’t quite been able to figure out the grass yet during his career.

The German hasn’t won a title on the surface and still hasn’t made it to the quarter finals at Wimbledon.

He lost in the fourth round this time, as he suffered the first of four defeats to Fritz this season, having led by two sets to love.

Which ATP tournaments will be held on grass in 2025?

The top-ten will no doubt be searching for more success on the surface next year, but where will they be able to pick up points?

It remains to be seen if Alcaraz and Djokovic will stay at the top next year, but there will be plenty of opportunities for the likes of Musetti and Paul to leapfrog them with some big results.

The first grass court action will take place at the beginning of June in Stuttgart and at Rosmalen.