Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Sinner Must Win Indian Wells or Miami to Avoid Concerns

Former player Steve Johnson believes Jannik Sinner needs to win a title at one of the upcoming Masters 1000 events.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 9:04am

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Jannik Sinner, the world No. 2 player, has not won a title since the 2022 ATP Finals. Former ATP pro Steve Johnson believes that if Sinner does not win the Indian Wells Masters or the Miami Open, it will be a cause for concern, as Sinner has set a high bar for himself with his consistent performances over the last three years. Sinner has yet to win the Indian Wells title and has lost in the finals of the Miami Open twice.

Why it matters

Sinner has been one of the most dominant players on the ATP Tour over the past few years, winning multiple titles and reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. His recent struggles have raised questions about his form, and this upcoming stretch of tournaments will be crucial in determining if he can regain his top form.

The details

Sinner lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open, marking the first time since 2024 that he has exited two consecutive events without reaching the final. He is now preparing for the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open, the first two Masters 1000 events of the season. Johnson believes that if Sinner fails to win a title at either of these events, it will be a cause for concern, as Sinner has set a high bar for himself with his consistent performances over the last three years.

  • Sinner lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2023.
  • Sinner lost in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in 2023.
  • The Indian Wells Masters is set to start on March 4, 2023.
  • The Miami Open is also scheduled for March-April 2023.

The players

Jannik Sinner

A 24-year-old Italian professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. He has won multiple titles on the ATP Tour and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Steve Johnson

A former American professional tennis player who competed on the ATP Tour.

Carlos Alcaraz

A 22-year-old Spanish professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. 1 in the world. He recently won his first Australian Open title and has been dominant on the ATP Tour.

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What they’re saying

“There's no need to panic, but I think if he doesn't win at Indian Wells or Miami, then we'll have to start asking questions. Simply because he's so good, isn't he? He's earned it. But he hasn't lost to anyone other than Carlos Alcaraz, I believe, for almost two years. So, if he starts losing more often to other players than Carlos, it becomes a little disconcerting. But he set that bar for himself, so he can only blame himself and the bar he set for his performance level over the last three years.”

— Steve Johnson, Former ATP pro

“It is not true that Jannik is in crisis; only two tournaments were played this year. And who says that? Spanish media that would love it to be true. They would like Sinner to be in crisis, but it is not [true]. The reason for the theories about Sinner's crisis is the fact that he did not reach the finals in the first two tournaments of the season, while Carlos Alcaraz won both.”

— Adriano Panatta, Former ATP pro

What’s next

The Indian Wells Masters is set to start on March 4, 2023, where Sinner will be looking to win his first title at the event. The Miami Open is also scheduled for March-April 2023, and Sinner will be aiming to improve on his previous performances at the tournament, where he has lost in the finals twice.

The takeaway

Jannik Sinner has set a high bar for himself with his consistent performances over the past few years, and his recent struggles have raised concerns about his form. However, the upcoming Indian Wells and Miami Open events provide him with an opportunity to regain his top form and silence his critics, who believe he is in crisis.