Jannik Sinner equals Rafael Nadal record despite not playing a match since the Australian Open

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Jannik Sinner is closing in on a return to competitive tennis, having been banned from competing for three months after the Australian Open.

Sinner has practised with Jack Draper as he steps up his preparations for his return, which is set to arrive at the Italian Open.

Italian star Sinner triumphed at the Australian Open earlier this season before being handed a three-month doping ban.

But he has maintained his position at the top of the ATP rankings throughout the period, with Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz failing to take advantage of his absence.

The duo have instead battled it out for the second and third spots, with Zverev now in front after winning the BMW Open.

Jannik Sinner equals Rafael Nadal world number one record

And as per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sinner has just started his 46th successive week as number one in the rankings.

That is the same feat Rafael Nadal achieved when he became world number one for the first time in his career.

READ MORE: What Rafael Nadal told Carlos Alcaraz immediately after his Barcelona Open final loss to Holger Rune

The Spanish superstar, who retired in November, ousted another legend in Roger Federer, who holds the record of 237 weeks.

Where does Jannik Sinner rank among players becoming number one for the first time?

Nadal doesn’t miss tennis since retiring, but it is clear that Sinner is chomping at the bit to get back to action.

But he is perhaps focusing on his fitness and winning matches as opposed to the ATP Tour rankings at this moment in time.

READ MORE: What French Open organisers have planned for Rafael Nadal at this year’s tournament

However, there are certainly more icons to follow, with Sinner currently fifth for players with the longest spells as number one for the first time.

Fittingly, immediate success is very much a possibility given that he will be making his return on home soil.

The Italian fans are certain to give the player a hero’s welcome, with Sinner certainly able to achieve success on clay.

Only one of his 19 ATP Tour titles have, however, come on the surface, while all three of his Grand Slam titles have arrived on hard courts.