Jannik Sinner comes fresh off sweeping the Sunshine Double without dropping a single set, but you wouldn’t know it from his schedule. After claiming back-to-back Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Miami, the 24-year-old Italian is already back on the practice courts. Carlos Alcaraz currently holds the world No. 1 ranking, and Sinner is doing everything in his power to reclaim it.
Jannik Sinner’s Relentless Practice Schedule
Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski highlighted Sinner’s work ethic on a recent episode of the “Off Court With Greg Rusedski” podcast. Arriving at the tournament grounds early in the week, Rusedski found the game’s hottest player already running drills.
“Sinner’s on a tear right now,” Rusedski said. “He wants to get back to world number one. I got here on Wednesday night and Thursday morning I was at the practice court. Guess who was at the practice court? Jannik.”
Rusedski noted that Sinner and his coaching team are “double-sessing it up,” adding a second daily practice block to prepare for the clay season.
“You think a guy who’s just won the Sunshine double would want a little bit of time off,” Rusedski added. “Nah, he’s straight at it.”
Following his back-to-back Masters 1000 victories at Indian Wells and Miami, Sinner has closed the rankings gap significantly. The upcoming clay swing presents a massive mathematical opportunity. The Italian has zero points to defend at the Monte Carlo Masters after missing the tournament last season.
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The Battle for World No. 1 Between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Men’s tennis is living in the Sinner and Alcaraz era, and Sinner’s victory in Miami was a major career milestone, putting both players at exactly 26 career tour-level singles titles apiece. Currently, the Spaniard leads the Grand Slam count with seven major titles. Sinner follows closely with four majors, largely built on his hard-court dominance.
Transitioning to European red clay needs sliding footwork and heavy topspin, which Sinner is actively working on in his double sessions. Alcaraz needs to protect his No. 1 spot by defending maximum points throughout the spring. Sinner is positioned to gain ground quickly if he translates his hard-court momentum onto the dirt.
Both will officially open their clay-court campaigns today in the Round of 32 at the Monte Carlo Masters. Alcaraz begins his title defense on Court Rainier III against Argentine clay specialist Sebastian Baez, while Sinner returns to the Monaco dirt later this afternoon to face Ugo Humbert. Following this week’s results, both stars are scheduled to continue their collision course at the Mutua Madrid Open, the next Masters 1000 checkpoint on the road to Roland Garros.
