Top-ranked men’s tennis player Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from an upcoming exhibition in Las Vegas after receiving a three-month suspension related to two failed doping tests. As a result, Casper Ruud will replace him at the MGM Rewards Slam, scheduled for March 2 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
The event, also featuring Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul, confirmed the lineup change in a statement released Thursday, citing Sinner’s recent suspension as the reason for his removal.
Sinner, 23, accepted a ban last weekend as part of a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Italian tested positive twice in March 2024 for trace amounts of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. According to Sinner’s explanation, the substance was present in a cream unknowingly applied to him by a staff member. That employee has since been dismissed.
Initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the case was appealed by WADA, leading to a negotiated suspension. Under the terms of the settlement, Sinner will be eligible to return in early May, just in time for the Rome Masters. The timing means he will not miss any Grand Slam tournaments, including the French Open, which begins May 25.
Sinner has dominated the men’s field in recent months, winning three of the last five major titles, including back-to-back Australian Open championships and the 2024 U.S. Open.
While Sinner sits out, Ruud steps in with a strong résumé, having reached the finals of three Grand Slam tournaments. Zverev has also been a three-time runner-up at majors. Fritz was defeated by Sinner in the 2024 U.S. Open final, and Paul’s best Grand Slam showing was a semifinal appearance.
A day before the men’s event, on March 1, the top-ranked women’s player Aryna Sabalenka will face former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in another marquee exhibition at the same venue
