As the reigning titan of the ATP tour, Jannik Sinner has notched his 38th week as the world number one in tennis. This Italian sensation is now just two weeks shy of overshadowing Ilie Nastase’s record and three weeks away from matching the recently retired Andy Murray’s streak. Sinner’s ascension to the ATP throne kicked off in June of the previous year, setting him apart from his opponents.
However, a recent turn of events has seen Sinner agree to a three-month suspension with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This decision followed two positive drug tests in March 2024, and it means the 23-year-old dynamite player will be out of action until May 4. His much-anticipated comeback is set to coincide with the Rome Masters.
Despite this setback, Sinner’s position at the top of the ATP rankings remains relatively secure. Even though he will miss four Masters 1000 tournaments, his nearest competitor, Alexander Zverev, has only managed to accumulate 200 ATP points in the last three weeks. This leaves him significantly trailing the three-time Major champion.
Sinner’s suspension, however, means he will be absent from pivotal tournaments including Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Munich, and Madrid. Despite this, his commanding lead in the ATP rankings remains unassailable. In fact, the Italian prodigy is projected to surpass the records of Nastase, Murray, and Kuerten in the next six weeks, putting him among the top 13 players with the most weeks as the world number one.
Sinner’s 2024 performance firmly entrenches his dominance in the world of tennis. His rise to the top began in earnest in 2023 when he finished the year as the world number four, emerging as a serious challenger for major titles and the ATP crown. In 2024, he exploded onto the scene with an incredible 73-6 record and a total of eight ATP titles under his belt.
His impressive 2024 haul included two Majors, three Masters 1000 titles, and the ATP Finals, reinforcing his supremacy on the hard courts and cementing his legacy in the annals of tennis history. His triumphant journey began at the Australian Open where he defeated Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev to secure his debut Major title.
Sinner continued to build on this momentum, adding Rotterdam and Miami titles to his portfolio and establishing himself as the player to beat. Although he slowed down on clay and missed the Rome Masters due to a hip injury, he returned to form at Roland Garros.
His journey to the semi-finals in Paris enabled his rise to world number one, making him the 29th player to reach this coveted position. He celebrated his first ATP title as the world’s top player in Halle, despite a thrilling five-setter defeat to Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon.
The Italian prodigy opted out of the Olympic Games in Paris, but made a triumphant return with victories in Cincinnati and the US Open, reinforcing his supremacy on the hard courts. He was the favorite at Shanghai and dispatched Novak Djokovic, the four-time champion, in the final, racking up his third Masters 1000 trophy of 2024. Not stopping there, he swept his opponents in straight sets at the ATP Finals in Turin, securing his eighth ATP trophy that season.
Sinner concluded 2024 at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, steering Italy towards a successful title defense. His winning streak continued into 2025, where he put on a dazzling performance in Melbourne. The world number one lost only two sets in seven Australian Open matches, extending his reign.
However, off the court, Sinner was grappling with a looming doping case. After a period of uncertainty, he reached a settlement with WADA, which resulted in a suspension from February 9 to May 4. During this period, Sinner will lose 1600 ATP points between Indian Wells and Madrid, but he remains hopeful of retaining his ATP top spot and competing in Rome as the world number one.
