As the 2026 ATP season nears its conclusion, several players have a chance to climb the rankings due to having few points to defend. Among them is Rafa Jódar, currently ranked 14th in the world, who has only 150 points to defend. Most of these points came from his success in Challenger tournaments in the United States at the end of 2025. Jódar's performance in recent matches, including a dominant victory over Cristian Garín, highlights his potential for further advancement, particularly in the upcoming Asian swing of tournaments in Tokyo and Shanghai.
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Jódar is positioned closely to qualify for the ATP Finals, being just 271 points away from the threshold. Currently, he has 124 points ahead of Tommy Paul, the first player outside the top 10 in the ATP Race.
Other players in a similar situation include France's Arthur Fils, who has zero points to defend until the end of the year. Fils, who missed the end of 2025 due to injury, aims to replicate his earlier successes, including title wins around this time of year. He recently entered the Brussels tournament, and a strong finish could push him into the top five.
Also noteworthy are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hubert Hurkacz, both of whom have no points to defend. Tsitsipas, currently outside the top 40, could benefit from a strong performance in indoor hard courts, venues where he has historically performed well. Hurkacz, who has faced injury struggles, will also seek to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the end of the season.
American players Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul are also in the mix. Tiafoe has only 10 points to defend, while Paul, having not played at the end of 2025, stands to gain significantly. The finish of the season presents numerous opportunities for these athletes to advance and secure favorable positions heading into the Australian Open.