ATP rival’s coach points out Jannik Sinner’s weakness that could put him in ‘awkward positions’
World No.1 Jannik Sinner is serving his three-month doping ban and will only make his comeback after May 4.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)
No one has one more than Jannik Sinner since the 2024 season. The World No.1 emerged triumphant in eight official tournaments, including at the Australian Open and the US Open.
He carried that incredible form into the 2025 season and beat Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open final to defend his crown. Sinner is unbeatable in almost every tournament he played. He ended his 2024 season with a 73-6 win-loss record.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who beat Taylor Fritz in the US Open final, didn’t let the American take revenge as the latter fell in the summit clash of the ATP Finals too. While analyzing Sinner’s game, Fritz’s coach Michael Russell has found one potential weakness.
With Sinner, keep developing the slice, being able to bring Jannik in; [he’s] not as comfortable at the net. Not to say he’s not capable at the net, but from the back of the court, he basically has two wings where he can hurt you from. Taylor needs to continue to look at ways to point construct, to put Jannik in awkward positions on the court.
Michael Russell told Tennis Channel
Sinner and Fritz have met each other five times. The 27-year-old was successful in toppling Sinner just once, in the 2021 Indian Wells fourth round.
Paolo Lorenzi criticizes inconsistency of Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Novak Djokovic during Jannik Sinner’s absence
Despite the ban, Jannik Sinner still tops the ATP rankings list with 10,330 points in the Live Rankings. Neither Alexander Zverev nor Carlos Alcaraz has enough points to dethrone Sinner from the top. Both Zverev and Alcaraz were beaten at the Miami Open. Alcaraz suffered a three-set defeat to David Goffin, while the German ended his campaign following his three-set defeat to Arthur Fils.
Novak Djokovic sits in the fifth position with 3,860 points and is still searching for his first tour-level title since the 2023 ATP Finals. Amidst their struggles to win titles, former player Paolo Lorenzi criticized them for not capitalizing on Sinner’s absence.
They can’t find continuity. The strongest ones really struggle. I really think there is, excluding Sinner, little difference between the others. When they are not well and not in the best condition, they cannot win matches.
Paolo Lorenzi said on SuperTennis
Both players will now aim to claim the 1000 points at the Monte Carlo Masters, the first ATP Masters 1000 on clay court, scheduled to start on April 5. Alcaraz lifted the Rotterdam Open this season but the World No.2 hasn’t yet tasted success since the 2024 Paris Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, on the other hand, will lock horns with home favorite Sebastian Korda in the Miami Open quarterfinals to continue his bid for his 100th ATP title. If the six-time Miami Open champion reaches the final and claims the title, he will break the tie with Andre Agassi for the most titles at Miami Gardens.
Jannik Sinner has played only one event in 2025 season so far
Jannik Sinner will only be able to play in ATP-sanctioned events after May 4. He could make his comeback at the Italian Open and is confirmed to make his appearance at the Hamburg European Open, ahead of the French Open.
Sinner has so far played just the Australian Open this season. He skipped the Rotterdam Open and landed in Doha for the Qatar Open but couldn’t participate in it due to the ban.
Sinner was banned due to clostebol contamination. At first, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to demand a lengthy ban, but they reached a case resolution with the tennis ace and instead imposed on him a three-month suspension.
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