Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis ace, is currently under a professional tour suspension from February 9 until May 4. This hiatus has presented Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, two of his fiercest competitors, with an opportunity to close the gap in the ATP rankings and possibly overthrow Sinner from the top spot.
Nonetheless, their performance in February has been far from promising. Zverev, the German titan, had a particularly dismal run last month. It is speculated that he may still be grappling with the crushing defeat he suffered at Sinner’s hands during the 2025 Australian Open final.
In a strategic move to accumulate as many points as possible, Zverev elected to participate in the red clay tournaments in South America. However, his decision backfired as his performance was cut short in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. The Hamburg-born player’s aspirations of redeeming himself at the Acapulco ATP 500 were shattered by Learner Tien, the upcoming American sensation who had previously knocked out Daniil Medvedev in the season’s first Major.
On the other hand, Alcaraz managed to secure his first title of 2025 in Rotterdam, albeit not showcasing his top form. Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate his victory in Doha, despite Sinner’s absence and the early exit of Nole Djokovic.
In a conversation with ‘SuperTennis’, Paolo Lorenzi, the former Italian ace, expressed his disappointment at the lackluster performance of Zverev and Alcaraz during this crucial period. He stated, “They seem to lack the requisite consistency throughout the season, often struggling significantly. Apart from Sinner, the rest appear to be on a similar playing field. Their struggles are more pronounced when they’re not at their best.”
He further commented on Alcaraz’s inconsistent form, “While he has some truly remarkable moments, his overall lack of regularity hampers his ability to capitalize on Sinner’s absence.”
Regarding Zverev’s disappointing South American tour, Lorenzi added, “He had embarked on the journey with the aim to gather points, but his results were far from satisfactory. They need to shift gears if they hope to surpass Sinner.”
In summary, both Zverev and Alcaraz will have to step up their game during the upcoming Indian Wells and Miami tournaments if they hope to narrow the gap with Sinner before his suspension ends.