Sinner strengthens top spot without playing – Second Serve tennis briefing

Jannik Sinner isn’t even allowed to play competitive tennis, yet he’s still strengthened his grip as the world’s leading men’s player.

Sinner, of course, is almost halfway through a three-month ban for a doping offence, which ruled him out of the ‘ Sunshine Double ‘ in Indian Wells and Miami.

But he watched on as his nearest rivals – Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz – both fumbled the chance to significantly narrow the gap at the top of the ATP rankings.

It looks increasingly likely Sinner will lead the way when he returns in Rome at the start of May.

Sinner still holds a lead of 2, 685 ranking points over Zverev, while Alcaraz is 3, 610 adrift.

With 1, 000 points available to the Monte Carlo and Madrid champions, plus 500 for winning Barcelona or Munich, a slim opportunity for Zverev remains.

The world number two was beaten by American qualifier Learner Tien in the Acapulco second round, 43rd-ranked Tallon Griekspoor in the Indian Wells second round, and France’s Arthur Fils in the Miami Open fourth round.

“I have been losing a lot of matches that I feel like I couldn’t control lately”, Zverev said after his Miami exit.

“I have to look at myself more than anything else”.

And what about Alcaraz? As we discussed in last week’s Second Serve, he also has some soul-searching to do.

Sinner is not the only one to have cemented his spot as the world’s leading player this month – although Aryna Sabalenka has actually done it herself on the court.

After winning Miami and finishing runner-up at Indian Wells, she has moved more than 3, 000 points clear of second-placed Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings.

What else happened in Miami?

Mensik’s stock – and his ranking – has shot up after his exploits in Miami.

Jacob Fearnley is the new British number two after reaching the Miami second round, while Croatian former top-20 player Borna Coric made a notable jump after winning a Challenger title on home soil.

Many of the world’s best are taking a week off as they change continents and surfaces before the European clay-court swing.

But top American stars Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys will head a strong WTA field at the Charleston Open.

Women’s singles

Raducanu’s run to a first WTA 1, 000 quarter-final was the biggest British story last week, while Sonay Kartal’s recent rise continued as she secured another career high ranking of 61st.

On the second-tier WTA 125 Tour, former British number one Heather Watson reached the semi-finals of the Puerta Vallarta Open in Mexico.

In Vacaria, Brazil, 24-year-old Briton Fran Jones beat France’s Leolia JeanJean 1-6 6-4 6-1 to win the W75 event – an ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour event in the tier below the WTA Tour.

Men’s singles

With Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie all out of Miami, attention turned to below the main tour.

Men’s doubles

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool demonstrated Britain’s strength in depth by reaching their biggest final together.

The sixth seeds had to settle for the Miami runners-up prize, however, after losing 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 to top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.

Women’s doubles

With so many professional tennis tournaments taking place across the world, and across so many levels, it can be hard to keep up with everything from one week to the next.

As part of BBC Sport’s commitment to offer more for tennis fans, Second Serve will be your weekly round-up of the biggest stories in the sport.

As well as the main talking point, you can see which ATP and WTA players are making significant progress – or struggling for form, how the British contingent are doing and what the next stops on the calendars are.