Jannik Sinner still leads alternative men’s rankings despite ban ahead of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner’s dominance over the past year remains evident—even during his absence from competition. Despite not playing since January due to a suspension, the Italian star still tops the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), an alternative ranking system used by professionals to assess player performance.
Sinner is currently serving a ban until May, following a retrospective suspension for the use of Clostebol, regardless of intent. Nonetheless, he continues to lead not only the ATP Rankings but also the UTR system, which evaluates players based on recent form and win probability rather than just tournament points.
While his inactivity opened the door for others to surpass him, neither Alexander Zverev nor Carlos Alcaraz have capitalized. Instead, Novak Djokovic, who recently reached the Miami Open final, holds second place in the UTR standings.
UTR Top 5 (as of April 4, 2025):
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) – 16.45
- Novak Djokovic (SRB) – 16.22
- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) – 16.11
- Jack Draper (GBR) – 16.05
- Taylor Fritz (USA) – 15.92
Despite winning the Miami Open, Jakub Mensik sits at No. 26 in the UTR rankings, reflecting the system’s emphasis on consistent performance over one-off victories. Zverev, considered by some as the “de facto” World No. 1 due to Sinner’s absence, ranks sixth.
The top 10 also features Ugo Humbert, Alex de Minaur, Ben Shelton, and Tommy Paul, while regular clay-court contenders like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud are notably missing, attributed to their inconsistent performances in recent months.
Notable UTR Rankings (4 April 2025):
- 6. Alexander Zverev (GER) – 15.95
- 7. Ugo Humbert (FRA) – 15.85
- 8. Alex De Minaur (AUS) – 15.86
- 9. Ben Shelton (USA) – 15.81
- 10. Tommy Paul (USA) – 15.81
- …
- 26. Jakub Mensik (CZE) – 15.63
- 35. Casper Ruud (NOR) – 15.52
- 21. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) – 15.71
The UTR is increasingly used by players, coaches, and analysts as a dynamic performance metric. It offers a deeper insight into a player’s form, factoring in the probability of winning matches rather than only win-loss records or tournament advancement.
Despite the controversy surrounding his ban, Jannik Sinner remains the man to beat. With his return scheduled for the Rome Masters in May, fans and rivals alike will be eager to see if he can maintain his place atop both the traditional and alternative rankings.
