Sinner’s Doping Ban Doesn’t Affect His No.1 Spot

Jannik Sinner remains at the top of the ATP Race despite missing two of the biggest tournaments—Indian Wells and the Miami Open—due to his three-month doping ban.

The World No. 1 dominated the Australian Open, dropping just one set in seven matches to claim his third Grand Slam title and 2,000 ranking points. Since then, no other player has managed to surpass his tally.

Alcaraz & Zverev Struggle to Catch Up

Sinner’s closest rivals, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, have struggled with inconsistent form:

• Alexander Zverev (1,665 points)

  • Australian Open finalist

  • Indian Wells: First-round exit (lost to Tallon Griekspoor)

  • Miami Open: Fourth-round exit (lost to Arthur Fils)

• Carlos Alcaraz (1,410 points)

  • Australian Open: Quarterfinal exit (lost to Novak Djokovic)

  • Won ABN Amro Open (500 points)

  • Indian Wells: Semifinal exit (lost to Jack Draper)

  • Miami Open: First-round exit (lost to David Goffin)

Despite being one of the favorites for the Sunshine Double, Alcaraz’s early losses hurt his chances of overtaking Sinner.

Jannik Sinner’s Return Set for Italian Open

Sinner is expected to make his comeback at the Italian Open in Rome, once his three-month ban is completed. The World No. 1 skipped this event last year due to injury but previously reached the quarterfinals in 2022 (lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas).

However, his suspension means he will miss two key ATP Masters 1000 events:

• Monte-Carlo Masters

• Madrid Open

This gives players like Zverev, Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic a golden opportunity to close the gap or even surpass Sinner’s 2,000 points before his return.

Meanwhile, Djokovic is still in contention in Miami, set to face Sebastian Korda in the quarterfinals as he hunts for his first ATP title since 2023.