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The Miami Open is underway – and the US has three leading contenders to lift the women’s singles title in 2025.

Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys are all among the favourites to lift the prestigious WTA 1000 title and, between the three, there may be more at stake than just silverware.

An intriguing battled to be the American No 1 is brewing, and action over the next nine days could prove significant in who holds the advantage over the coming months.

As it stands

The trio could not be any closer as things stand, with Gauff currently world No 3, Pegula currently world No 4, and Keys at her career-high of world No 5.

However, Gauff – the youngest of the three players – has a solid, if not unsurpassable, amount of points separating her from her two rivals.

The 21-year-old holds 6,063 ranking points, with Pegula on 5,361 and Keys on 5,004 points as of Monday, March 17th.

But that is a smaller gap than it was heading into Indian Wells, with Gauff dropping 270 points after her fourth-round run fell short of her semi-final showing at Tennis Paradise in 2024.

Pegula gained 110 points thanks to her run to the fourth round, while Keys earned an impressive extra 325 points thanks to her semi-final run.

Miami Open points

This week’s Miami Open sees all three women defend a handful of points, with world No 4 Pegula facing slightly more pressure than her compatriots.

The 2024 US Open runner-up was a quarter-finalist last year, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova, and has 215 ranking points in Miami to her name.

With 10 points already defended thanks to an opening-round bye – which benefits all seeds – Pegula currently drops 205 points in the WTA Live Rankings, falling to 5,156.

Gauff and Keys were both beaten in round four in 2024, losing to by Caroline Garcia and Elena Rybakina, respectively.

With 10 points also successfully defended thanks to their byes, Gauff and Keys currently drop 110 points in the WTA Live Rankings.

Gauff drops to 5,953, while Keys drops to 4,894.

Who has the advantage in Miami?

Gauff is in the driver’s seat as things stand, and it is unlikely that she will be usurped as the American No 1 following action at the Miami Open.

Keys can move to a maximum of 5,884 points with the title – meaning she cannot overtake the world No 3 in any circumstance, while Pegula would hold 6,146 points should she triumph.

That could be enough for her to regain her position as the US No 1, though she would also need Gauff to fail to make it to the quarter-finals.

However, Pegula could also be overtaken by Keys in the rankings, and knocked back down to world No 5 – or lower, depending on other player results.

If Keys were to win the title, there would be no way for Pegula to match her compatriot’s ranking points; with the two on the same side of the draw, they could potentially meet in the semi-final.

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Miami draw

Fourth seed Pegula and fifth seed Keys could be in line for a semi-final meeting, though there a plenty of obstacles for them both to pass before a potential meeting.

Most notably, Keys is projected to face second seed and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek in the last eight – though did beat the Pole on her way to the Australian Open title in January.

Should she reach the quarter-final, Pegula could face another American in the form of eighth seed Emma Navarro – or Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva.

Meanwhile, third seed Gauff is in the top half of the draw and is projected to face a semi-final against world No 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff’s campaign will start against Sofia Kenin on Thursday and she could then face 28th seed Maria Sakkari – who she beat in Indian Wells – in round three.

Looking ahead

Following the conclusion of the Miami Open, the clay-court swing gets underway – where Pegula could strike.

The world No 4 reached the semi-final of the Charleston Open a year ago – earning 195 points – though missed the rest of the clay swing due to injury.

In comparison, Gauff has French Open and Italian Open semi-final points to defend, while Keys has the WTA 500 Strasbourg Open title and Madrid Open semi-final points on her ranking.

That could allow Pegula to move back to US No 1 ahead of Gauff and distance herself from Keys, though she then faces a crunch summer where she faces rankings pressure.

The 31-year-old is a defending champion at the WTA 500 Berlin Open and WTA 1000 Canadian Open, before defending Cincinnati Open and US Open runner-up points.

Read Next: WTA Rankings: How many points are Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Andreeva, Raducanu defending in Miami?

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The Miami Open marks the second leg of the Sunshine Double on American soil and several big-name players will be dropping a lot of points at the ATP Masters 1000 event, resulting in some movement in the ATP Rankings.

First things first, reigning world No 1 Jannik Sinner is the defending champion and he won’t be in action as is currently serving a three-month ban following his positive drug tests in March last year.

The Italian has 11,330 points in the rankings, but will drop to 10,330 points after all is said and done in Florida. He is not in danger of losing his No 1 spot as he has a massive lead, but it will give Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz a chance to edge closer to him after the tournament.

Miami Ranking Points Breakdown

Winner: 1000 points
Finalist: 650 points
Semi-finalists: 400 points
Quarter-finalists: 200 points
Round of 16: 100 points
Round of 32: 50 points
Second Round: 30 points
First Round: 10 points

Players who feature in the main draw of the Masters events earn 10 points so if you lose in the first round you will still get 10 points while a victory will see you go home with at least 30 points for making the second round.

The top 32 players have byes into the second round, but they also earn the 10 points from the first round.

Sinner defeated Grigor Dimitrov in the 2024 final so the Bulgarian will drop 650 points (although he is already +10 as he is among those who have a bye in the first round).

Dimitrov currently sits at No 15 in the official ATP Rankings, but he has slipped seven places in the Live Rankings after the deduction of those points.

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev were the two losing semi-finalists so they will be -400 points at the start of the event while Carlos Alcaraz, Fabian Marozsan, Nicolas Jarry and Tomas Machac lost in the last eight so will drop 200 points.

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Taylor Fritz, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune were among those to lose in the second round in 2024 so they effectively start with zero points (-10 from last year and +10 in 2025).

Six-time Miami Open champion Novak Djokovic hasn’t played at the event since 2019 so he has no points to defend and will start his campaign with 10 points in the bank.

With Casper Ruud dropping 100 points, tennis’ newest ATP Masters 1000 title winner, Jack Draper, has moved up to No 6 ahead of the Norwegian in the Live Rankings. Draper is defending only 30 points after losing in the second round last year.

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The ATP and WTA have both issued responses after the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) launched legal action against tennis’ governing bodies.

Both tours dismissed the PTPA’s accusations, with the ATP proclaiming that the organisation has “struggled to establish a meaningful role in tennis.”

On Tuesday, the PTPA initiated a lawsuit against the ATP and WTA tours, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

The organisation is a players’ union that was founded in 2020 by tennis legend Novak Djokovic and former Canadian pro Vasek Pospisil.

In a statement, the PTPA asserted: “The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades.

“The ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA operate as a cartel by implementing a number of draconian, interlocking anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices.”

The 163-page complaint was filed in the United States District Court in New York, where the PTPA is seeking a jury trial. Co-founder Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios are two of 12 current or former professional players listed as plaintiffs.

The PTPA has made the claim that the lawsuit has been “backed overwhelmingly by the top 250+ men’s and women’s players including a majority of the top 20 players.”

The ATP fired back by claiming the PTPA “has consistently chosen division and distraction through misinformation over progress.”

“Since the inception of the ATP Tour in 1990, ATP has played a leading role in the global growth of men’s professional tennis,” the ATP statement read.

“Throughout more than three decades, ATP’s 50-50 governance structure has ensured that players and tournaments have an equal voice in shaping the sport’s direction at the highest level.

“Recent years have brought about transformative changes for players. The introduction of a prize money formula, record-setting on-site prize money, and new and expanded Bonus Pools have contributed to a major increase in player compensation (up $70 million in the past five years).

“The introduction of annual, independent audits has given players full transparency over tournament financials at ATP events. ATP’s Baseline programme has introduced minimum guaranteed income for the Top 250-ranked singles players, providing unprecedented financial security in professional tennis.

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“Contributions to the player pension fund have surged, while prize money at ATP Challenger Tour events has more than doubled – reinforcing ATP’s commitment to strengthening the player pathway.

“These advancements have been achieved through ATP’s governance structure, with every key decision made with player input and by their elected representatives. Meanwhile, players – as independent contractors – have retained extensive control over their schedules, allowing them the flexibility to compete, train, and monetise their careers as they see fit.

“While ATP has remained focused on delivering reforms that benefit players at multiple levels, the PTPA has consistently chosen division and distraction through misinformation over progress. Five years on from its inception in 2020, the PTPA has struggled to establish a meaningful role in tennis, making its decision to pursue legal action at this juncture unsurprising.

“We strongly reject the premise of the PTPA’s claims, believe the case to be entirely without merit, and will vigorously defend our position. ATP remains committed to working in the best interests of the game – towards continued growth, financial stability, and the best possible future for our players, tournaments, and fans.”

The WTA said: “The PTPA’s action is both regrettable and misguided, and we will defend our position vigorously in due course.

“The WTA is a nonprofit, membership organization that exists to advance women’s tennis on behalf of players, tournaments and fans. WTA players, as equal members alongside tournaments, have an essential and influential voice in the governance of the WTA. Every decision taken at the WTA Board level includes the input of players via their elected Board representatives, and athletes receive substantial financial rewards and other benefits from participation in the WTA.

“It is this governance model, supported by generations of athletes, that has allowed the WTA to achieve considerable progress on behalf of our players. Among many examples, in recent years we have committed to a $400 million increase in player compensation, set out a pathway to pay equality at our major WTA events, secured new investment to fuel the long-term growth of the sport, and launched the first comprehensive maternity benefits for independent, self-employed athletes in the history of women’s sports.

“The WTA is fully committed to continuing to develop and evolve the structure and operations of professional women’s tennis, listening closely as always to the views of our players. Contesting this baseless legal case will divert time, attention and resources from our core mission to the detriment of our players and the sport as a whole.”

READ NEXT: Miami Open ATP Predictions: Djokovic’s tough road, Alcaraz & Medvedev fight back, Zverev disappointment

The post ATP and WTA react to Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios-led PTPA lawsuit with strong statements appeared first on Tennis365.

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), an organisation co-founded by Novak Djokovic, has launched legal action against tennis’ governing bodies.

The lawsuits are against the ATP and WTA tours, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The PTPA has labelled the governing bodies a “cartel” and accused them of implementing “anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices.”

The 163-page complaint was filed in the United States District Court in New York, where the PTPA is seeking a jury trial. PTPA co-founder Vasek Pospisil and Nick Kyrgios are two of 12 current or former professional players listed as plaintiffs.

A statement from the PTPA read: “Following years of good-faith efforts to reform professional tennis, the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has taken decisive legal action.

“Today, the PTPA, alongside over a dozen professional tennis players, and on behalf of the entire player population, and renowned international law firm and historical player advocates Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP initiated a series of legal actions in the U.S., UK, and EU against the sport’s governing bodies—the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), International Tennis Federation (ITF), and International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

“The lawsuits expose systemic abuse, anti-competitive practices, and a blatant disregard for player welfare that have persisted for decades.

“The ATP, WTA, ITF, and ITIA operate as a cartel by implementing a number of draconian, interlocking anticompetitive restraints and abusive practices.”

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The PTPA also claimed that the lawsuit has been “backed overwhelmingly by the top 250+ men’s and women’s players including a majority of the top 20 players.”

Ahmad Nassar, the Executive Director of the PTPA, said: “Tennis is broken. Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings, and jeopardises their health and safety.

“We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and the governing bodies have left us no choice but to seek accountability through the courts.

“Fixing these systemic failures isn’t about disrupting tennis – it’s about saving it for the generations of players and fans to come.”

In a tweet, Nassar explained: “The legal challenges centre on the following illegal actions:

Schedule abuse
Data misappropriation and betting collusion
Prize money manipulation
Player exploitation and hostile work environment
Abuse of power
Health and safety malpractice
Massive conflicts of interest
Investigative abuses and privacy rights violations

We stand ready to engage with anyone to solve these problems and lead tennis to a bright future for all.”

READ NEXT: 2025 ATP prize money leaders: Jannik Sinner top, Jack Draper soars, Novak Djokovic not in top 10

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The Miami Open men’s singles draw gets underway on Wednesday – and a new champion could be crowned in Florida.

With defending champion and world No 1 Jannik Sinner currently serving his suspension, several of the ATP’s leading stars will look to take advantage.

Here, we assess the key storylines that could emerge – and predict how some of the big names will fare.

Djokovic disappointment

Novak Djokovic holds a joint-record six Miami Open men’s singles title, though hasn’t won the title since 2016 – and has not played the event since 2019.

Now, the 37-year-old returns to Florida having lost his last three matches – his worst run since 2018 – and off the back of a poor performance in his Indian Wells loss to Botic van de Zandschulp.

Unfortunately for the Serbian, the draw gods have not been too kind to him.

Djokovic could face compatriot and rising star Hamad Medjedovic in his opening match, before a tough third-round test against 32nd seed Alex Michelsen.

That could be followed by a hypothetical round-four tie against Lorenzo Musetti or Felix Auger Aliassime, and a quarter-final against seventh seed Daniil Medvedev.

With Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas among the other stars on the bottom half of the draw, a much-needed run for Djokovic feels unlikely in his current form.

Alcaraz response

Alcaraz’s 16-match winning streak in Indian Wells ended in a dramatic semi-final loss to Jack Draper in which the Spaniard was far from his best.

However, while not as successful as an event for him as Indian Wells, the Spaniard has played well at the event previously – winning his first Masters 1000 title here in 2022.

The Spaniard will be determined to write the wrong of his Indian Wells defeat and his path early on looks manageable.

Alcaraz will start against Aleksandar Vukic or David Goffin, before a third-round against Brandon Nakashim and a fourth-round against 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov – who he thrashed in Tennis Paradise.

With struggling fifth seed Casper Ruud the second-highest player in this quarter, Alcaraz should have a smooth path to the last four – and a meeting against Djokovic or Medvedev.

Medvedev eyes extended resurgence

Though he was beaten by Holger Rune in the last four – and failed to make the final for a third straight year – Indian Wells felt like a step in the right direction for Medvedev after recent struggles.

Having won the Miami Open title in 2023, and reaching the semi-final again last year, the former world No 1 could be primed to continue his promising to return to form here.

The Russian could have a tough third round against 26th seed Jiri Lehecka and then meet ninth seed Tsitsipas after that, though the courts in Miami should be well-suited to him.

With struggling fourth seed Djokovic in this quarter, there is a real chance for Medvedev to go deep into the draw once again – and potentially return to title-winning ways.

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Can Zverev end his struggles?

Alexander Zverev has an underwhelming 4-4 record since the Australian Open, a run of results that has significantly damaged his chances of rising to world No 1.

The German will hope Miami can represent a significant return to form after an opening-match exit in Indian Wells – but his draw is incredibly tough.

Zverev is projected to face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the third round, and could then face Frances Tiafoe or Arthur Fils – fresh from a strong run in Tennis Paradise – in round four.

Further ahead, Indian Wells champion Jack Draper or runner-up Rune could await in the last eight, and it is projected to be third seed Taylor Fritz in the last four.

This is not an advantageous draw for the German, and his struggles look set to continue.

Draper’s potential rematches

Only seven men have completed the ‘Sunshine Double’ – can new world No 7 Draper potentially make it eight?

The Brit is in the form of his life and could face two opponents he beat on his way to the Indian Wells title once again, in the form of Jenson Brooksby in round three and 11th seed Rune in round four.

Draper, however, could have to beat rising star Jakub Mensik as early as round two, while the likes of Zverev or Fils could await in the quarter-finals.

Winning the title could be a push for the 23-year-old, though expect him to progress at least someway through the draw.

Read Next:  Miami Open WTA Predictions: Gauff & Swiatek respond, Raducanu struggles, Andreeva & Sabalenka look ahead

The post Miami Open ATP Predictions: Djokovic’s tough road, Alcaraz & Medvedev fight back, Zverev disappointment appeared first on Tennis365.

Jannik Sinner has made a big tweak to his 2025 calendar as he has added a new tournament to his schedule in a move that is no doubt aimed at helping him to regain his match fitness after his doping ban.

The three-time Grand Slam winner is currently serving a three-month suspension following his positive tests for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024.

Although he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency and initially allowed to continue playing, the World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] appealed against the decision in September last year.

WADA initially wanted a ban of between 12 months and 24 months, but they later reached an agreement with Sinner’s legal representative and it was decided he would be suspended from 9 February until 4 May.

The Italian – who has played only one tournament so far in 2025 as he successfully defended his Australian Open title – has already missed the Qatar Open and the Indian Wells Open while he will also be absent at this week’s Miami Open and the upcoming Monte Carlos Masters, Barcelona Open and the Madrid Open.

His first event back will be on home soil as he is set to play at the Italian Open.

That was initially set to be his only tournament before the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open, but Sinner has now added the Hamburg European Open with the ATP 500 event taking place from 18-24 May.

The top players often skip the tournaments the week before a Grand Slam, but Sinner’s team will no doubt feel he will be undercooked for Roland Garros if he only plays one event in Rome after completing his suspension.

It will be Sinner’s debut at the clay-court tournament with the German event now taking place ahead of Roland Garros unlike in previous years where it was staged after Wimbledon.

Sinner is not the only big-name player to have signed up as Holger Rune, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Gael Monfils will also feature.

“I’m excited to make my debut at the Hamburg Open, a tournament with a lot of history in our sport. The fans always create a fantastic atmosphere on the beautiful centre court. I’m looking forward to playing at Rothenbaum in May and can’t wait to finally visit Hamburg,” Sinner said in a statement.

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Tournament Director Enric Molina Mur added: “The participation of Jannik Sinner, the current world No 1 and three-time Grand Slam winner, is an enormous milestone for our tournament and a historic moment. We are very proud and excited to offer our fans a true tennis festival with Jannik and all the other top players that will no doubt light up the courts.”

It is the second big announcement from the Italian in the last 24 hours as on Monday it was confirmed that he will his long-term management company StarWing and will link up with AVIMA Sports & Business Management.

The post Jannik Sinner adds new tournament to his schedule ahead of return from doping ban appeared first on Tennis365.

Indian Wells is done and dusted, and the Miami Open is set to get underway this week – with the biggest WTA stars all in action.

Ahead of the final hard-court event of the spring, we cast an eye on what could await for the event’s key players.

Swiatek freed up

Iga Swiatek has not reached a final since the 2024 French Open, and has been subject to much criticism for her on-court behaviour in her Indian Wells semi-final defeat to Mirra Andreeva.

However, her public statement on Monday, coupled with less pressure in Miami than in Indian Wells, could free up the Pole and make her incredibly dangerous.

The 2022 Miami Open champion, Swiatek knows how to play well at this tournament and, with just fourth-round showing to defend, has the chance to earn some big ranking points.

Swiatek’s campaign will likely start against Caroline Garcia and could pit her against 15th seed Karolina Muchova in the fourth round; in Indian Wells, she dropped a combined four games versus both.

Swiatek would be a significant favourite against 27th seed Elise Mertens in round three and, though a quarter-final against fifth seed Madison Keys is tricky, there’s a sense she can do some real damage.

Gauff’s good draw

Once again, third seed Coco Gauff finds herself in the top half of the draw with Aryna Sabalenka – though the American was beaten in the fourth round in Indian Wells.

While her draw here may not necessarily be easy on paper, it does feel manageable.

Gauff is a warm favourite to beat either Sofia Kenin or Petra Kvitova in her opener, and that would likely be followed by a third-round against 28th seed Maria Sakkari – who she beat in Tennis Paradise.

A projected fourth-round clash against 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova could prove tricky – the Russian was a semi-finalist last year – though you sense this is not the trickiest test for the 21-year-old.

A run to the title may be a push considering the recent return of her forehand and serve struggles, but a better showing in Miami than in Indian Wells should be expected.

Can Raducanu turn around her season?

Having skipped the Miami Open in 2024, this tournament should feel like a free hit for Emma Raducanu.

However, having gone 3-6 for the season so far – and falling back to world No 60 in the WTA Rankings – this feels like a significant event for the Brit in and attempt to find some much-needed confidence.

On paper, Raducanu should be the favourite for her opening-round match against Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii.

The 19-year-old is IMG-backed and has a bucketload of talent, but Raducanu’s experience and skill should be enough for her to get over the line.

With no points to defend, there is an opportunity for a huge rankings surge here – but the draw gods have not been too kind.

Should she beat Ishii, she would face eighth seed Emma Navarro in round two, and it is tricky to see her passing that test should it arise.

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Andreeva’s Sunshine Double

Only four women have ever won both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year – can Andreeva make it five?

The odds would seem against her considering how few women have achieved it over the years – but then few would have backed her to triumph in both Dubai and Indian Wells.

Riding a 12-match win streak, the 17-year-old is the 11th seed in Miami and could face 17th seed Amanda Anisimova in the third round.

Anisimova is currently the only woman other than Andreeva to win a WTA 1000 title this year, and that could be followed by a clash against eighth seed Navarro – and then fourth seed Pegula in the last eight.

This is Andreeva’s Miami Open debut and it is hard to know exactly what to expect, though it would not be a shock if the exertions of the past few weeks catch up to her.

Sabalenka’s revenge?

World No 1 Sabalenka has never made it past the Miami Open quarter-finals, but will her Indian Wells final defeat to Andreeva provide extra motivation?

The Belarusian has a good draw early on, with a fourth-round battle against 14th seed and reigning champion Danielle Collins a fun possibility.

Potential quarter-final opponents include seventh seed Elena Rybakina – runner-up the past two years – and ninth seed Zheng Qinwen, both women facing their respective struggles in 2025.

A run to the last four should be the bare minimum for the top seed – and it could be time for her to finally win one of these two ‘Sunshine Double’ titles.

Read Next: WTA Rankings Race To Riyadh: Keys No 1, Andreeva moves ahead of Swiatek, Gauff with work to do

The post Miami Open WTA Predictions: Gauff & Swiatek respond, Raducanu struggles, Andreeva & Sabalenka look ahead appeared first on Tennis365.

The draw has been made for the Miami Open ATP Masters 1000 event, with some enticing matches lined up for a draw that features all but one of the game’s biggest names.

World No 1 Jannik Sinner will again be absent as he continues to serve his suspension from the sport following his positive doping test at Indian Wells a little over a year ago.

A thrilling Indian Wells Masters tournament confirmed that Sinner’s absence didn’t detract from the spectacle in a tournament that threw up a host of big talking points.

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev were among the star names dumped out of Indian Wells in double quick time, with Carlos Alcaraz’s efforts to win a third straight title in the first event of the annual ‘Sunshine Swing’ on the ATP Tour.

The final saw two of the young guns in the men’s game battling it out, with Britain’s Jack Draper announcing his arrival on the big stage as he won his first ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Draper has seen an instant impact following his big win in California, as he has jumped into the top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time as he is the No 6 seed for the Miami Open.

The benefit of that rankings leap will see Draper avoid clashes with top-ranked players in the early stages of tournaments for the next few months, with his opening match in Miami set to be against either Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut or Czechia’s Jakub Mensik.

Draper could be set for a rematch with Holger Rune after their one-sided final in Indian Wells, as the dup are in the same quarter of the draw in Miami.

After going out early in Miami last year, Draper has a real chance to make another leap up the ATP Rankings if he gets to the business end of the Miami Open, with a top five place in his sights as he heads to Florida.

Djokovic is playing in Miami for the first time since 2019 and the 24-time Grand Slam champion will be eager to find winning form after his shock defeat against Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp.

The Serbian will play either Australia’s Rinky Hijikata or his fellow Hamad Medjedovic in the opening round in Miami, with possible match-ups against America’s Alex Michelsen, Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger Aliassime also in is quarter of the draw.

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Carlos Alcaraz leads the bottom half of the draw as the No 2 seed, with veteran Belgian David Goffin or Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic lying in wait in his first match.

The Spaniard could face Brandon Nakashima in his second match, with Grigor Dimitrov also in his section of the draw after the duo played against each other last week.

Alcaraz holds a 4-2 winning record against Dimitrov, but he had way too much for his Bulgarian rival in a 6-1, 6-1 win in Indian Wells.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios is still in the draw despite the recurrence of his wrist problems in his comeback tournament in Indian Wells and he has been drawn against a qualifier in his opening match.

Top seed Zverev will be eager to improve on his disappointing defeat in Indian Wells and he could face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard if he gets through an opening match against Benjamin Bondi or a qualifier in his opening match.

Potential quarter-final matches by seeding:

Alexander Zverev [1] vs Jack Draper [6]

Tayor Fritz [3] Andrey Rublev [8]

Daniil Medvedev [7] vs Novak Djokovic [4]

Carlos Alcaraz [2] vs Casper Ruud [5]

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Jannik Sinner still occupies the No 1 spot in the Race to the ATP Finals, but the Indian Wells Masters brought some interesting changes elsewhere in the top eight.

The 2025 ATP Finals will be the fifth edition of the tournament held in Turin, with the eight qualifiers competing for the biggest prize money pot in tennis.

Sinner secured a staggering $4,881,100 — a record payout for a tournament winner in the sport — for his undefeated title run at the 2024 year-end championships.

The eight men who earn the most ranking points in the 2025 season will qualify for the ATP Tour showpiece, which will be staged from November 9 to 16.

If a current-year Grand Slam winner finishes between ninth and 20th in the Race, they will take the eighth and final qualification spot.

Sinner, the current world No 1, leads the Race with the 2,000 points he collected for winning the Australian Open in January.

The year’s first major is the only tournament Sinner has played so far this season as he received a three-month ban (running from 9 February to 4 May) for failing two doping tests in March 2024.

Alexander Zverev —  who lost to Sinner in the final of the Australian Open — is 435 points adrift of the Italian in second place.

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The German has failed to capitalise on Sinner’s absence thus far having endured a disappointing run since his heartbreak in Melbourne.

Jack Draper’s victory at the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells has seen him surge to third position in the Race Rankings, with the Brit only 35 points behind Zverev.

Carlos Alcaraz — a semi-finalist in Indian Wells and titlist in Rotterdam this year — trails Draper by 130 points in fourth spot.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, who has won titles in Adelaide and Montpellier and finished as a runner-up in Dubai in a strong start to 2025, sits fifth on 1,145 points.

Ben Shelton and Alex de Minaur are sixth and seventh in the Race respectively, while Holger Rune has jumped into the eighth qualification spot after his runner-up result in Indian Wells.

Novak Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open, is currently 90 points behind Rune in ninth position.

Top 15 in ATP Rankings Race (March 17)

1. Jannik Sinner – 2,000
2. Alexander Zverev – 1,565
3. Jack Draper – 1,530
4. Carlos Alcaraz – 1,400
5. Felix Auger-Aliassime – 1,145
6. Ben Shelton – 1,100
7. Alex de Minaur – 985
8. Holger Rune – 950
9. Novak Djokovic – 860
10. Tommy Paul – 850
11. Denis Shapovalov – 825
12. Daniil Medvedev – 800
13. Tomas Machac – 795
14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina – 780
15. Stefanos Tsitsipas – 755

READ NEXT: Boris Becker sends warning to Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev about Jack Draper

The post ATP Rankings Race To Turin: Sinner leads, Draper climbs above Alcaraz, Djokovic 9th appeared first on Tennis365.

Emma Raducanu appeared to be set to take a break from social media platforms when her Instagram account was taken down, but it didn’t take long for it to reappear.

The 22-year-old has endured a challenging three years since she shot to global fame by winning the US Open, as her life was transformed by her big win in New York proving to be challenging on and off the court.

Raducanu’s lack of success on the court and constant battles with injuries dominated her story over the last three years and those difficulties have impacted her sponsorship opportunities, with some of the deals she signed after her US Open win either expired or likely to do so soon.

Her appeal to sponsors has undoubtedly dipped since her value as a brand ambassador reached a peak immediately after her US Open win, but the prospect of her walking away from social media platforms entirely is not viable so long as she still has some sponsorship deals in place.

Yet the harsh reality of the modern world is that Raducanu needs to have a social media presence as that is one of the biggest appeals for sponsors.

Raducanu’s 2.6m followers on Instagram and her profile as an athlete combine to make Raducanu a potent influencer with a youthful audience who look up to her as more than just a tennis player.

If Raducanu did not fall into the bracket of an ‘influencer’ in the eyes of her sponsors, it would impact here commercial appeal and that may explain why her Instagram account that was shut down last week is now live once again.

The benefits of social media are often contrasted by the negative that flows the way of glamorous stars and Raducanu has felt the force of that more than most.

Her iconic US Open win was an inspirational moment for young girls around the world, as she came through qualifying and won a Grand Slam title, but the fall out from that win is a sad reflection of how the modern world operates. 

Bizarrely, several X accounts have been set up just to abuse Raducanu and mock her when she loses a match or picks up another injury.

She also gets criticism on Instagram, with recent posts greeted with comments from those eager to criticise her weak points on the court and fitness concerns, which may have been a reason why her life would be easier without social media accounts.

That would be understandable, especially after the recent incident in Dubai, where she was confronted by a fan displaying what was described as ‘fixated behaviour’ and she spoke about the incident and how much it affected her.

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“I was obviously very distraught,” said Raducanu as she reflected on the incident in Dubai. “I saw him in the first game of the match and I was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to finish’. I literally couldn’t see the ball through tears. I could barely breathe. I was like, ‘I need to just take a breather here’.

“It was a very emotional time. After the match I did break down in tears, but not necessarily because I lost.”

Respected tennis broadcaster Marcus Buckland told Tennis365 is among those questioning whether Raducanu will consider a career away from tennis, as the level of scrutiny she has to put up with is too intense.

“I think it’s really tough for her and I hope she doesn’t come to the conclusion that she doesn’t need tennis,” Buckland told Tennis365.

“Of course, if she gave up tennis tomorrow, she has earned enough from the sport not to worry about money and she could pursue other areas she is interested in. She has mentioned a banking career.

“One of my best friends in tennis is Annabel Croft and she retired from tennis at an even younger age than Raducanu at 21. She had a wonderful junior career, she got into the top 20 on the main tour and she decided the lifestyle just did not suit her.

“She said to me that playing tennis felt like having a very public argument in the office every day and she has never regretted walking away from the sport.

“So it’s perfectly possible that Raducanu could do the same, but you are retired for a very long time.

“She needs to find that consistency on court and build some momentum. I think the key for her is to establish a strong team off the court to give her the strength to deal with everything else that comes her way.

“There is a lot of mental scarring from everything that has happened to her since she won the US Open.

“It’s been such a roller-coaster ride, but she has a wonderful game. She can mix it with the best, but does she really believe that?

“Until she starts getting some big wins against the top players, those doubts are going to persist and that’s why she might start to ask why she is putting herself through this.”

Raducanu is destined to always be an influencer after her stunning breakthrough at the top of global sport and that means she may need to sustain social media accounts, even if they are a threat to her mental health.

READ NEXT: Miami Open draw: Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek handed ‘very tough’ tests

The post Why Emma Raducanu’s return to Instagram was always inevitable appeared first on Tennis365.