Carlos Alcaraz Slammed With Major Criticism for Failing To Capitalize Despite Jannik Sinner’s Ban
Jannik Sinner’s Suspension Opens the Door, but Can Anyone Take Advantage?
Jannik Sinner kicked off 2024 in dominant fashion, successfully defending his Australian Open title against Alexander Zverev in straight sets. But just as his season reached new heights, it came crashing down with a three-month suspension for a doping violation. Talk about a rollercoaster.
Now, the world No. 1 is set to miss four Masters 1000 tournaments—Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid. However, he’ll return just in time for the Italian Open in May before heading into Roland Garros. Will this break cost him his dominance? Not everyone is convinced, especially with Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz still trailing behind.
Paolo Lorenzi: ‘The Gap Won’t Close in Three Months’
Former Italian pro Paolo Lorenzi isn’t buying the idea that Sinner’s absence will shake things up.
“Neither Zverev nor Alcaraz had the necessary continuity last year to follow Sinner,” Lorenzi told Spanish publication We Love Tennis.
“A gap like today’s is not made up in three months. The difficulties observed may come from the fact that both try to progress quickly, but such transformations take time.”
Simply put, Sinner’s rivals haven’t been consistent enough to capitalize on his absence.
And he might be right. Sinner’s 2024 season has been legendary so far—a 73-6 record, two Grand Slam titles, three Masters 1000 trophies, and an ATP Finals win. Since June, he’s been sitting atop the ATP rankings with 11,330 points, dethroning none other than Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile, his closest competitors are still playing catch-up:
- Alexander Zverev: 8,135 points (nearly 3,200 behind)
- Carlos Alcaraz: 7,510 points (almost 4,000 behind)
Zverev Struggles to Find His Form
Since his Australian Open final loss, Zverev’s form has dipped. The German has entered four tournaments since Melbourne but hasn’t won a single title. His latest setback? A shocking second-round exit at Indian Wells, courtesy of Tallon Griekspoor.
If Zverev wants to capitalize on Sinner’s absence, he’ll need to turn things around—fast.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Mixed Bag of Results
Unlike Zverev, Alcaraz has shown flashes of brilliance but remains inconsistent.
- Australian Open: Reached the quarterfinals before falling to Novak Djokovic
- Rotterdam Open: Champion
- Qatar Open: Lost in the quarterfinals
However, at Indian Wells, Alcaraz has been on a tear. He demolished 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-1, following dominant wins over Denis Shapovalov and Quentin Halys.
Alcaraz on Chasing No. 1: ‘I’m Not Thinking About It’
With Sinner out, Alcaraz has a golden opportunity to close the ranking gap. But the 21-year-old Spaniard insists he’s not focused on chasing the top spot—yet.
“Well, I’m not thinking really much about recovering the No. 1 in two or three months,” Alcaraz said after his latest win.
“That could make me feel extra pressure. I’m just focused on every day and every tournament because if I’m doing the right things… No. 1 is going to come after.”
But rankings aren’t the only thing at stake. If Alcaraz defends his Indian Wells title, he’ll join an elite club alongside Roger Federer (2004-06) and Novak Djokovic (2014-16) as the only players to win three consecutive singles titles at the event.
His next test? A quarterfinal showdown with Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine is 0-1 against Alcaraz, with their only meeting ending in a one-sided win for the Spaniard at Queen’s Club last year.
Sinner’s Suspension Shakes Up the Tour—But Who Will Take Advantage?
With Sinner sidelined, the ATP field has a rare opportunity to dethrone the world No. 1. But can Zverev or Alcaraz step up and take control, or will they let Sinner return with his dominance untouched?
One thing’s for sure—the next three months will be crucial in shaping the tennis landscape for the rest of 2024.
