Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension has opened a rare window of opportunity for his rivals to close the gap at the top of the ATP rankings. However, former Italian ATP pro Paolo Lorenzi believes that Sinner’s competitors have struggled to find the consistency required to take advantage of his absence.
On February 15, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March 2024, leading to a three-month ban. The suspension, which began on February 9, will run until May 4, allowing Sinner to return just in time for the Masters 1000 event in Rome, which kicks off on May 7.
During his enforced break, the three-time Grand Slam winner has missed significant tournaments, including appearances at Doha, Indian Wells, and Miami. He will also be sidelined for the clay-court Masters events in Monte Carlo and Madrid, giving his rivals a chance to make up ground in the ATP rankings.
Lorenzi Criticizes Lack of Consistency
Speaking on the Italian TV channel SuperTennis, former world No. 33 Paolo Lorenzi expressed disappointment with the lack of continuity shown by Sinner’s rivals. He highlighted the struggles of Alcaraz, Zverev, and Novak Djokovic, stating:
“They can’t find continuity. The strongest ones really struggle,” Lorenzi remarked (translated from Italian).
“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.”
Alcaraz’s Inability to Step Up
Lorenzi specifically pointed out Alcaraz’s inconsistency, emphasizing his missed opportunity to take over the top ranking.
“The first is Alcaraz, who has very little continuity. We expect him now to take advantage of the chance related to Sinner’s absence to become number one again. Instead, he has precisely a continuity problem, which he needs to solve quickly.”
Zverev’s South American Struggles
Lorenzi also criticized Zverev’s failure to capitalize on his South American tour, where he sought to accumulate ranking points but struggled with unfavorable conditions.
“Zverev himself went to South America to score points, and instead the conditions were complicated.”
Djokovic’s Lack of Dominance
Even Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has not displayed the dominance that many expected during this period.
“For everyone else, I don’t see that crazy difference in their game. They struggle a lot. I expected something more from Zverev, Alcaraz, and even Novak Djokovic.”
Catching Up to Sinner Will Take Time
Lorenzi concluded by acknowledging that Sinner’s rivals are making changes to improve their game in an effort to catch up, but emphasized that such adjustments take time and often result in inconsistent performances.
“Sinner improved too much compared to the others. We can also say that to catch up with Sinner, the others are making changes to improve their game. To do this, of course, takes time. This forces you to lose games.”
As Sinner prepares for his return to competitive action, his rivals will need to show greater consistency and adaptability if they hope to challenge the Italian’s supremacy. Until then, Sinner remains firmly in control at the top of the ATP rankings, with little sign of immediate competition from those chasing him.