Tennis-Zverev's Monte Carlo exit assures Sinner of top rankings spot on tour return

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 26, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates winning the final against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

(Reuters) -Jannik Sinner will return to the ATP Tour from his doping ban at next month's Rome Masters as world number one after the Italian's closest challenger Alexander Zverev crashed to an early defeat in Monte Carlo on Tuesday.

Sinner, 23, accepted a three-month ban in February following an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which earlier challenged an independent tribunal's decision to clear him of any wrongdoing after he failed two drug tests.