As Jannik Sinner prepares to return to action, one top tennis analyst believes his comeback couldn’t come at a better time for the men’s game.
The world No. 1 has played only one tournament in 2025—the Australian Open—where he captured his third Grand Slam title with dominant form on hard courts. Since then, Sinner has been sidelined due to issues related to his WADA agreement, and the ATP Tour has struggled to find a consistent figurehead in his absence.
Many expected Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz to capitalize on Sinner’s absence and make a run for the top ranking. Instead, both players have been inconsistent.
Zverev claimed the Munich title but has otherwise underperformed, suffering multiple early exits. His most recent setback came in Madrid, where he fell to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo—mirroring his exit at the same event last year.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, started the season strongly with titles in Rotterdam and Monte Carlo but has since been derailed by a right adductor injury sustained during the Barcelona Open. That forced him to skip Madrid, and it remains uncertain whether he’ll be fit in time for Rome or Roland Garros.
“Sinner Is the Anchor of Men’s Tennis Right Now”
On the latest episode of Sans Filet, renowned analyst Benoit Maylin didn’t mince words about the current state of the ATP Tour:
“There’s no longer any doubt—Jannik Sinner is the undisputed leader of men’s tennis. These last three months have made that clear,” Maylin said.
He emphasized the overall decline among other top players:
“Rublev and Tsitsipas have dropped down the rankings. Novak Djokovic has become a shadow of his former self, and Medvedev is still struggling to solve his game.”
“Zverev loses nerve when he’s close to winning big, and Alcaraz swings between brilliance and frustration. Sinner’s return couldn’t be more important for the sport.”
Sinner is set to return at the Italian Open in Rome later this month, with hopes high that he can restore some order—and excitement—to the men’s game ahead of Roland Garros.
