Cincy sensation Djokovic closing in on return to No. 1

Novak Djokovic’s dramatic Cincinnati final win over Carlos Alcaraz puts the 23-time Grand Slam champion within striking distance of a return to the top ATP ranking as the US Open begins next Monday.

According to calculations, the pressure is all on current top dog Alcaraz to defend his winner’s points from last year, when Djokovic did not play after being banned at the time from the US due to lack of a COVID vaccine 

With the veteran Serb standing a razor-thin 20 ranking points behind Alcaraz, one slip from the Spaniard will be enough to vault Djokovic back to the summit.

Should Djokovic win his opening match next week, Alcaraz will drop no matter how well he does throughout the rest of the Grand Slam fortnight.

Alcaraz has just entered his 34th week atop the rankings and has secured the top New York seeding but remains in serious danger of a tumble.

To maintain the current status quo, calculations suggest that Alcaraz would need to retain his title while Djokovic goes out in the first round.

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Nadal goes down in final match

Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…

3 days ago

Sinner flattens de Minaur in runaway home start

Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…

2 weeks ago

Madcap Medvedev suffers temperamental Turin Finals loss

Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…

2 weeks ago

Team Sinner considering skipping Monte Carlo

Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…

2 weeks ago

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

1 month ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

1 month ago