Jannik Sinner Hints at Possible Withdrawal from Madrid Open Following Monte Carlo Triumph

Jannik Sinner would not be defending any points should he play at the Madrid Open.

Jannik Sinner Hints at Possible Withdrawal from Madrid Open Following Monte Carlo Triumph

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/4K JANNIK SINNER)

In Short
  • Jannik Sinner hints at a possible withdrawal from the Madrid Open after winning the Monte Carlo Masters.
  • He has not had over a week's rest since March and may take a three-week break before the Italian Open.
  • Sinner reclaimed the World No.1 spot but could lose it if Carlos Alcaraz wins the Barcelona Open.

Jannik Sinner remains on the entry list of the Madrid Open, which will kick off next week. But things could change in the coming days for the Italian star, having successfully claimed the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time in his career and featured in three consecutive ATP 1000 tournaments on tour.

Sinner hasn’t had over a week’s rest since March. He had taken almost two weeks’ break after the tour, following his poor run at the Qatar Open, but bounced back at the Indian Wells Open. He won the California-based ATP 1000 title after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final. He continued with the momentum at the Miami Open, where he won his third consecutive Masters title.

The Italian surprisingly played at the Monte Carlo Masters, despite not getting enough rest in four weeks and playing 12 consecutive matches. Sinner reached the final of the Monte Carlo tournament for the first time in his career and faced the 2025 champion, Carlos Alcaraz. He overcame the Spaniard in straight sets.

His triumph at the Monaco-based tournament saw him reclaim the World No.1 spot for the first time after five months. The four-time Grand Slam champion now leads the ATP rankings with 110 points. But his stay at the top of the men’s rankings might be short-lived if Alcaraz wins the Barcelona Open this week.

Alcaraz has just 330 points to defend at the Barcelona Open, and if he wins the title, he will have 120 points extra, which is enough to close the gap against Sinner and return to No.1. Alcaraz has also revealed that he will play the Madrid Open, where he has no points to defend. Meanwhile, during the Monte Carlo press conference, Sinner has hinted at the possibility of taking a three-week rest from the tour and then returning for the Italian Open in May:

It’s all been pretty hectic, so now it’ll be nice to have a few days off the court. Then, I’ll take two or three days off, then I’ll evaluate with my team whether to go to Madrid or not.

Sinner has not won the Italian Open in his career. He reached the final of the tournament last year but lost the title to Alcaraz. However, he doesn’t have any points to defend at the Madrid Open, having not played at the event last year due to a doping suspension. Should he win it this season, he will gain 1,000 points.

But the Italian star will be eyeing the Rome Masters, where he will seek to become the first Italian man to win the championship since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Jannik Sinner admits he continues to improve in his game every day

After taking the risk of playing at the Monte Carlo Masters after the Sunshine Double, there were expectations that fatigue might stop Jannik Sinner from being at his best at the later stages of the event. The 24-year-old has also not had enough time, like his arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz, to smoothly transition from hard to clay court.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Quindici Zero)

But that didn’t matter in the end as Sinner dropped just one set at the Monte Carlo Masters and then defeated Alcaraz in the final. With Alcaraz hitting over 80 unforced errors in the final clash, Sinner just had to take his chances and win the match. During the aforementioned press conference, he admitted that he tried to improve on his game every day:

Every day I woke up and tried to improve and then tried to get better as a player. Here [in Monte-Carlo], we did day by day, trying to understand what the best game style is against every opponent, because I haven’t played the same kind of tennis against everyone. We changed small, small things. It was a good match from him, and also from me, There are small things that he is going to improve for the next match against me, and I have to be ready for that.

Sinner now holds a 7-10 head-to-head record against Alcaraz on tour. He has won their last two meetings on tour; first at the ATP Finals and then in Monte Carlo. They are yet to meet in a Grand Slam final this season, but may have a chance to do so should they face off at the French Open in Paris.

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