Famous tennis pundit blasts Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev for making Jannik Sinner return at the Rome Masters as World No.1 despite three-month suspension

Jannik Sinner sits clear of Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the ATP rankings despite playing just one event in 2025.

Famous tennis pundit blasts Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev for making Jannik Sinner return at the Rome Masters as World No.1 despite three-month suspension

Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X)

The presenter of Punto de Break, Jose Moro, has credited Jannik Sinner for his consistency over the last 18 months, which has made him the World No. 1. At the same time, the Portuguese has criticized Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz for not taking advantage of the Italian’s suspension.

Zverev lost in the opening round of Monte Carlo to Matteo Berrettini, securing Sinner’s spot at the top of the rankings until the end of the Rome Masters. Moreover, Alcaraz has not been able to replicate the form that made him a four-time Grand Slam champion.

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Sinner will return to Rome as world number 1. During his three months of absence, neither Zverev nor Alcaraz were able or knew how to get close to him. Incredible.

Jose Moron wrote on X

Alcaraz has won only one ATP title, which was the Rotterdam Open. However, he has not put together a strong run in key tournaments to challenge Sinner at the top of the rankings. The biggest setback came when he lost his Indian Wells crown last month after falling to Jack Draper in the semifinals.

Sinner’s suspension will end on May 4 and he is set to make his return at the Rome Masters in front of his home fans. The Italian didn’t play there last year due to a hip injury that hampered his clay season.

Jannik Sinner to headline the player profile in Rome

The entry list for the 2025 Italian Open ATP 1000 is out. Jannik Sinner is set to return to tennis at this event. He has not played since winning the Australian Open in January. His three-month doping ban ends just before the tournament.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (via X)

Sinner, ranked world No. 1, was suspended after failing two drug tests in March. The ban started on February 9 and ends on May 4. The Italian Open will begin on May 7. Sinner will return to action in front of home fans.

The Italian Open will run from May 7 to 18. This year marks the 82nd edition of the tournament. Alexander Zverev, who won in 2024, is the defending champion. Past winners Djokovic, Medvedev, and Zverev are also in the draw.

Reilly Opelka is also making a return. He has been out for over six months due to injury. He used his protected ranking of 33 to enter the event. His current ranking is 105.

Carlos Alcaraz gets great opportunity to topple Alexander Zverev at Monte Carlo

Carlos Alcaraz proved his strength on clay when he beat Alexander Zverev in the 2024 French Open final. But that win was not enough to push him ahead of Zverev in the ATP rankings. Zverev’s steady results throughout the year kept him at world No. 2.

Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz
Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz (via X)

Recently, Zverev’s form has dropped. He struggled on South American clay and did not do well at Indian Wells or Miami. He hoped to bounce back at the Monte-Carlo Masters, but things didn’t go as planned. Meanwhile, Alcaraz now has a real chance to pass him in the rankings.

If Alcaraz wins the Monte Carlo title, he will move ahead of Zverev. Even if he doesn’t win, he can still gain ground. Zverev is under pressure, especially with 1,000 points to defend from his Rome win last year. A poor run could see him fall in the rankings.

This slip in form could hurt Zverev’s confidence. If Alcaraz takes the No. 2 spot before the French Open, it would be huge. It would mean he avoids playing world No. 1 Sinner until the final, giving him a better draw.