“Disgraceful”;”This will be Jannik Sinner’s legacy” – Fans appalled at Italian maintaining rankings lead after Indian Wells despite doping ban

Fans have erupted in frustration over Jannik Sinner’s continued reign as ATP world No. 1, despite serving a three-month suspension for a doping violation. Following the conclusion of Indian Wells, where rising stars like Jack Draper and Holger Rune made headlines, many were shocked to see Sinner maintain his rankings lead, with some calling the situation “disgraceful.”

The backlash stems from the belief that a banned player should not be able to retain their ranking while others actively compete. Critics argue that allowing Sinner to remain at the top of the rankings undermines the integrity of the sport, with some even claiming that this controversy will define his “legacy” more than his Grand Slam titles.

On social media, fans expressed their outrage:

• “So a player who is banned for doping is still No. 1? What a joke.”
• “This will be Jannik Sinner’s legacy, not his tennis.”
• “If the ATP wants to be taken seriously, they need to strip him of his ranking points.”

Despite the backlash, Sinner’s ranking lead remains intact due to his dominance earlier in the season, including his second straight Australian Open title. His main rivals, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, have failed to capitalize on his absence, struggling to collect enough points to dethrone him.

With Sinner set to return in May, the debate continues over whether ATP ranking policies need reform, particularly regarding suspensions. Until then, the Italian remains the world’s top-ranked player, but his absence has undoubtedly sparked one of the most divisive ranking debates in recent tennis history.