Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner, 23, is solidifying his position as a dominant force in the ATP rankings. He’s currently celebrating his 39th consecutive week as the world’s number one tennis player. His grip on the top spot, first claimed in June of the previous year, remains unchallenged.
Sinner’s upcoming five weeks could see him overtake tennis legends Ilie Nastase, Andy Murray, and Gustavo Kuerten, placing him as the 13th player to hold the world number one position for a minimum of 44 weeks since the inception of ATP rankings in 1973.
However, the Italian’s journey to the top hasn’t been without controversy. In March 2024, Sinner received a three-month suspension from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after testing positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol on two separate occasions. Despite this, his ranking remains unaffected.
His suspension period, which ends on May 4, means he’ll miss four Master 1000 events. Yet, his nearest competitor, Alexander Zverev, has been unable to capitalize on Sinner’s absence, accumulating a mere 200 ATP points over three weeks, which starkly contrasts Sinner’s commanding lead.
The Italian’s 2024 season was a testament to his tennis prowess. With an awe-inspiring 73-6 record, Sinner secured eight ATP titles, including two majors, three Master 1000 crowns, and the ATP Finals, marking him as a force to be reckoned with on hard courts.
His journey to the top began with a stunning victory at the Australian Open, where he triumphed over Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. This victory, earned from a two-set deficit in the final against Medvedev, marked Sinner’s first Major title at just 22.
Despite a hip injury forcing him to withdraw from the Madrid Masters, Sinner made a strong comeback at Roland Garros, reaching the semi-finals. However, his spectacular performance was halted by Carlos Alcaraz, who ousted the ATP Race leader.
Despite this setback, Sinner amassed enough points to ascend to the world number one position, becoming the 29th player to do so since 1973. His first tournament as world number one in Halle ended with him lifting the title.
He also managed to put up a formidable fight against Daniil Medvedev in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, despite health issues. His subsequent absence from the Paris Olympic Games only seemed to fuel his determination. Upon return, Sinner dominated on his favourite hard court, winning titles in Cincinnati and the US Open.
Sinner’s reign didn’t stop there. He secured his third Masters 1000 title of the season against the four-time champion Novak Djokovic in Shanghai. After withdrawing from the Paris Masters, he made a triumphant return at the ATP Finals in Turin, where he crushed five opponents in straight sets, earning 1500 ATP points and his eighth trophy of 2024!
Following this, Sinner led Italy to a successful title defense at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. He then started 2025 by defending his title at the Australian Open. Despite the cloud of the doping scandal off-court, on-court, Sinner remained unstoppable.
However, Sinner’s doping scandal resulted in a settlement with WADA, which induced a suspension from February 9 to May 4. This means the three-time Major winner will lose 1,600 ATP points ahead of his return at Foro Italico. Despite this, Sinner is expected to retain his number one spot during his suspension, offering him a morale boost ahead of his return to tournaments in Rome, Paris, and London.
