When Jannik Sinner’s three-month period of ineligibility began in February, one of the big questions floating out there was can anyone take the No. 1 ranking from him while he’s gone?
At the time, the No. 2 and No. 3 players on the ATP rankings, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, had a legitimate shot—but now, two months later, they haven’t done enough, and it’s out of reach.
Sinner is guaranteed to still be No. 1 when he comes back in Rome.
Zverev was still in the running going into this week, but he needed to win Monte Carlo, at least reach the final of Munich next week, then win Madrid—but by losing his opening match in Monte Carlo to Matteo Berrettini, the most points he can have going into Rome is 8,945.
Alcaraz was already out of the running coming into this week. Even if he wins everything he’s entered in until Rome—Monte Carlo, Barcelona next week then Madrid—he would have 9,020 points.
Neither of them will be able to catch Sinner, who will have 9,730 points on his ranking when he returns to action in the Italian capital.
