 "Jannik Sinner has been suspended from the game until 4 May. Image: AP")
Top-ranked tennis star Jannik Sinner has accepted a three-month suspension in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after testing positive for a banned substance . The ban will keep the Italian out of action until 4 May 2025. Despite the setback, Sinner will remain world No. 1 for now, but his absence creates an opening for his closest rivals, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, to challenge for the top ranking.
Can Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz overtake Jannik Sinner?
Due to his suspension, Jannik Sinner is set to lose a total of 2,100 ranking points before his return. This includes 500 points from the Rotterdam Open, which he did not defend last week. The most number of points that Sinner is going to lose is from the Miami Open - 1,000 points. He will also lose points for missing out on the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open.
While Sinner, with 11,830 points, remains well ahead of his competitors in the ATP rankings, the gap could narrow significantly over the next few months.
Currently ranked No. 2, Alexander Zverev has an opportunity to close the gap with Sinner. However, he needs to earn at least 2,500 points during this period to overtake the Italian at the top. Carlos Alcaraz, another strong contender, faces an even bigger challenge. The Spaniard needs over 3,700 points to dethrone Sinner and become the new world No. 1.
Sinner’s ban will officially end on 4 May 2025, and he will be allowed to resume training from 13 April 2025. He is expected to return for the Italian Open. Sinner will also be eligible to compete at Roland Garros, with the French Open beginning on 25 May 2025.
However, the decision to suspend Sinner has sparked backlash within the tennis community with Nick Kyrgios and Stan Wawrinka defending the Italian. Former British tennis player Tim Henman also believed that Sinner was not deliberately trying to gain an advantage but found it “a little too convenient” that he managed to avoid a harsher punishment.