A Weekly Tennis Briefing: What You Need to Know from the Tours
Welcome to Second Serve, your weekly snapshot of all the latest developments in the tennis world. With the Miami Open wrapped up, we take a closer look at the biggest talking points, including Jannik Sinner’s surprising hold on the top spot, Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance, and the emergence of new young stars.
From Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev’s struggles to Emma Raducanu’s resurgence, there’s plenty to unpack. Let’s dive into this week’s major headlines!
Jannik Sinner Strengthens His Grip – Without Even Playing
Believe it or not, Jannik Sinner’s lead at the top of the ATP rankings actually grew—despite him being banned from competition. The Italian star is currently serving a three-month suspension due to a doping violation, which meant he missed both Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
His absence should have given Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz a golden opportunity to close the gap. Instead, both players failed to capitalize, leaving Sinner in a commanding position as he prepares for his return in May at the Italian Open in Rome.
Zverev Struggles to Find His Form
World number two Alexander Zverev had a tournament run to forget, crashing out early in both Indian Wells and Miami. His Miami Open exit came in the fourth round at the hands of Arthur Fils, adding to a series of poor performances.
“I have been losing a lot of matches that I feel like I couldn’t control lately,” Zverev admitted. “I have to look at myself more than anything else.”
With a 2,685-point gap to Sinner, Zverev still has an outside chance to take over the top ranking during the clay-court season, but he will need to drastically improve his form.
Alcaraz Also Falls Short
It wasn’t just Zverev who let an opportunity slip away. Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked third in the world, also had a tournament to forget, failing to gain significant ground on Sinner.
With 3,610 points separating him from the top spot, Alcaraz will need a dominant clay-court season to have any chance of challenging Sinner in the coming months.
Aryna Sabalenka Dominates the WTA Tour
While Jannik Sinner held onto his ATP lead from the sidelines, Aryna Sabalenka cemented her status as the dominant force in women’s tennis—on the court.
After winning the Miami Open and finishing as runner-up at Indian Wells, Sabalenka extended her lead over Iga Swiatek in the WTA rankings to more than 3,000 points.
With 23 wins and four finals in 2024, Sabalenka is currently the most in-form player on the WTA Tour and looks unstoppable heading into the clay season.
Her number one ranking is now secure until at least Roland Garros, and with the way she’s playing, she could be a serious contender for the French Open title.
Miami Open: Other Key Storylines
Jakub Mensik’s Breakthrough Victory
Teen sensation Jakub Mensik stole the headlines in Miami, denying Novak Djokovic his 100th career ATP title and claiming his first-ever Masters 1000 trophy.
The 19-year-old Czech star was nearly forced to withdraw before his opening match but powered through the tournament to score a shock title victory.
His ranking skyrocketed into the world’s top 25, making him one of the biggest movers of the week.
Emma Raducanu Shows Signs of a Comeback
Emma Raducanu produced her best tennis since winning the 2021 US Open, making a WTA 1000 quarter-final for the first time.
Although she fell short in the final eight, her Miami Open performance was a major step forward in rebuilding her confidence and consistency.
The challenge now? Backing up this success in the coming months.
Alexandra Eala’s Fairytale Run
Teenage sensation Alexandra Eala made headlines after beating three Grand Slam champions, including second seed Iga Swiatek, to reach the Miami Open semi-finals.
The Filipina star was the biggest climber in the WTA rankings this week and will be one to watch heading into the clay season.
Rankings Shifts & British Tennis Updates
Biggest ATP & WTA Climbers
- Jakub Mensik – Broke into the top 25 after his Miami Open title.
- Alexandra Eala – The biggest riser in the WTA top 100.
- Borna Coric – Jumped up the rankings after winning a Challenger title on home soil.
- Anca Todoni – Won a WTA 125 title in Turkey, earning a career-high ranking.
British Tennis Roundup
- Jacob Fearnley is now the British number two after his Miami Open second-round run.
- Sonay Kartal climbed to a career-high ranking of 61st.
- Heather Watson reached the semi-finals of a WTA 125 event in Mexico.
- Dan Evans dropped out of the top 200 after an early Challenger Tour loss.
Upcoming Tournaments: What’s Next?
With the Miami Open wrapped up, the tours now transition to clay-court season.
WTA Tour: Charleston Open
Top American stars Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys will headline the Charleston Open, as many of the world’s best take a week off before European clay events.
ATP Tour: Houston, Marrakech & Bucharest
Three ATP events are on tap this week:
- Houston Open (USA)
- Grand Prix Hassan II (Morocco)
- Bucharest Open (Romania)
However, only two top-20 players—Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe—are in action, meaning these tournaments could present big opportunities for lower-ranked players.
What Is Second Serve?
Tennis moves fast. With tournaments happening across multiple levels every week, it can be hard to keep track of all the key storylines.
That’s where Second Serve comes in.
Each week, we bring you:
The biggest ATP & WTA headlines Ranking movers & struggling stars Updates on British players Upcoming tournaments & what to watch for
You can also sign up for BBC Sport’s tennis updates straight to your mobile, ensuring you never miss a beat in the tennis world!
Final Thoughts
With Jannik Sinner still leading the way, Sabalenka dominating the WTA tour, and new stars emerging, tennis fans have plenty to be excited about as we move into the European clay swing.
Stay tuned for next week’s Second Serve—because in tennis, the action never stops!
