Reilly Opelka reveals what’s changed on ATP tour since Jannik Sinner’s 3-month doping ban

Jannik Sinner will make his comeback in the third clay-court Masters 1000 of the season, the Italian Open, which starts on May 7.

Reilly Opelka reveals what’s changed on ATP tour since Jannik Sinner’s 3-month doping ban

Reilly Opelka, Jannik Sinner (Image via Tennisnerd, X/Australian Open)

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has been handed a three-month doping ban by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Many, including Reilly Opelka, think his ban has made the draws of tournaments more open because of the new winners.

Carlos Alcaraz has been inconsistent this season as he is making deep runs and reaching finals but has also suffered early exits. Amid his inconsistent tennis and Sinner’s ban, the tennis world has two different champions in both the Sunshine Double tournaments.

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Jack Draper clinched the title at Indian Wells, en route to which, he knocked out Alcaraz in the semifinals. At the Miami Open, Jakub Mensik bagged the first title of his career by denying Novak Djokovic his 100th title. World No. 105 Opelka said that during the Big 3 era, fans used to fill up stadiums only to watch Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer but now the four-time Grand Slam champion is the “hottest ticket“.

You are going to see more highlights from him than from any other player, but he could still lose. He could very well win the tournament or lose in the second or third round. I think for the first time, especially with Jannik not present at Indian Wells, we can officially say the draw is open or it’s up for grabs. For the longest time, it was just three guys who were likely to win the tournament.

Reilly Opelka said on the Nothing Major podcast

The four-time ATP title winner was last seen in action at the Miami Open where he suffered a straight-set defeat to 20th seed Tomas Machac in the second round. He will next kick start his campaign on the clay swing at the Barcelona Open where he will lock horns with last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, against whom he is 1-1 on head-to-head.

Goran Ivanisevic draws similarity between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic

Goran Ivanisevic has coached Novak Djokovic to nine out of his 24 Grand Slam titles. They ended their partnership in March last year, following which, the Croatian coach joined Elena Rybakina‘s team but the partnership didn’t last for long as he left her team after her Australian Open exit due to the Stefano Vukov saga.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Podcast)

Ivanisevic is reportedly set to join Stefanos Tsitsipas’ team following the Roland Garros this year. The 53-year-old, during the (Ne)uspjeh prvaka podcast with Slaven Bilic, was asked about players’ different approaches.

He said every player has a ritual and they handle themselves differently. Ivanisevic then compared how Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are completely different players.

For example Novak. Sinner is like that. Alcaraz isn’t. Alcaraz plays one set and you may not win a single point. But then he gives you the next. I prefer watching him. Sinner is more like Novak. When Sinner grabs you, you might as well leave. You have no chance and he doesn’t let go. He is always the same, just grinds you down.

Goran Ivanisevic said

Alcaraz, recently at the Monte Carlo Masters, dropped the first set against Francisco Cerundolo in the first round. He soon made an emphatic comeback to take the next two sets 6-0, 6-1. The 21-year-old is bidding to win his first title in the tournament and his second title of the season following the Rotterdam Open. He reached the final and set up a match against Lorenzo Musetti.

Djokovic, after reaching the Miami Open final, succumbed to a straight-set defeat in his first match in The Principality. Sinner, on the other hand, will make his comeback at the Italian Open which starts on May 7. His ban lifts on May 4.