Which tennis players are not defending points and could rise in the rankings at the end of 2026?

Carlos Navarro - 21 Sep 2026 | 16:49
Arthur Fils Rafael Jódar Tommy Paul Stefanos Tsitsipas ATP ranking ATP

We analyzed the names that could take advantage of the final stretch of the season to catapult themselves in the ATP ranking: they defend hardly any points... and some arrive in very good form.

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Jódar, one of the teams conceding the fewest points by the end of 2026.

The end of the 2026 ATP season is approaching, but there is still much left to be decided. The variety of tournaments from now until the end of 2026 is broad enough to cause genuine headaches for many, but also to boost others who see in the coming weeks the perfect opportunity to climb the ATP ranking. If we recently published an article analyzing the players who must defend the most points at the end of the 2026 season, it’s now time to talk about those who have everything to gain... among them is a representative who threatens to progress even further: Rafa Jódar.

There are players within the top-100 who defend even fewer points than the Madrid player, but the rate at which the player from Leganés can earn points in this last quarter of the year could significantly accelerate his entry into the top-10. The opportunity for Rafa is unmatched: in the match against Garín in Chile, he seemed to send the message that what happened at the US Open was an accident, and the surface of, for example, the Asian swing tournaments suits him perfectly.

Is the top-10 close for Rafa Jódar? 

The Spaniard ranks in the top-15 of players defending the least points until the end of the season: only 150 points, all earned through his successes at the end of 2025 in Challenger tournaments in the United States. Nothing compared, of course, to all that the circuit can offer him until the end of the year: his adventures will begin in Tokyo, continue through Shanghai, and, in principle, include visits to the tournaments in Basel and Paris. What’s the big goal? To qualify for the ATP Finals, from which he is currently just 271 points away. No matter what happens, the Spaniard is already among the nine best of the season, and showing the solidity and consistency that have characterized his 2026 should be more than enough to start the next season among the ten best in the world (he currently has 124 points ahead of Tommy Paul, the first player outside the top-10 in the ATP Race).

But there are more names that see a clear opportunity to propel themselves in the world ranking by the end of this year. A standout is a guy who also intends to play a lot: we are talking about Arthur Fils, sidelined at the end of 2025 due to injury, and who already knows what it is like to win titles at this time of the calendar (his first major trophy was in Tokyo a few seasons ago). The Frenchman has even entered the Brussels tournament (250 category): with 0 points to defend until the end of the year, an outstanding streak could bring him up to levels as high as the top-5 by season’s end.

The possible resurrections on the ATP circuit in 2026

The area of resurrections also occupies a prominent place on this list. There are two players who do not defend a single point until the end of 2026 and who have reasons for optimism (though for different circumstances). The first is Stefanos Tsitsipas, who showed glimpses of the Greek player that captivated us at the US Open: the indoor hard court swing has always brought good news for the Hellenic player, capable of reaching the semifinals in Paris, Shanghai, Vienna, or Brussels in the past. He always just fell short of crossing the finish line, but that haul of points would do him a world of good in trying to regain seed status for the next Australian Open (he is currently still outside the top-40).

Another name that should benefit from the speed of this tour is Hubert Hurkacz. A champion in Shanghai not too long ago, the Pole has also been sidelined by pesky injuries and continues to seek consistency that has yet to arrive. His form differs from Stefanos, but in a season finish where other players with a heavier workload might arrive more fatigued, Hubi can find his place and be reborn: he will also defend zero points... and he finds himself in a situation similar to Stefanos, currently outside the top-45.

Lastly, the battle for the ATP Finals and for a spot in the top-8 ahead of next year's Australian Open not only involves Rafa Jódar. Two Americans want to assert themselves outside their borders and compete for that privileged position: Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul will forget about defending points (the Maryland player defends just 10, while Tommy didn't play at the end of 2025, so he has everything to gain) to focus on surpassing Rafa and consolidating their statuses for the first Grand Slam of next year. In short, multiple fronts and incentives in a season finish that could be the best ally for many... with Spanish representation.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Qué tenistas no defienden puntos y pueden dispararse en el ranking este final de 2026?