Carlos Alcaraz has kicked back into gear after the disappointing halt to his run at the semifinals in Paris at the hands of Novak Djokovic. He will return to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday, reclaiming the spot from Novak Djokovic after winning his first title on grass at the Cinch Championships.
Djokovic had just taken World No. 1 himself after winning his record 23rd Major title at Roland Garros. Two weeks later, the 20-year-old Spaniard will pass the Serbian and begin his 26th week at the top of the men’s tennis ranking.
It will be the sixth time in 2023 that there has been a change at World No. 1, the most in a season since 2018 (seven). The six World No. 1 changes are the most in the first half of a year since 1983, when it swapped seven times through June.
It has been a constant battle between Alcaraz and Djokovic, with Daniil Medvedev making a push at times with his incredible run through the first half of the season and there are no signs it will slow down any time soon. Alcaraz will retain World No. 1 through Wimbledon, but top spot will be up for grabs at the grass-court Major.
The 20-year-old will take an 80-point lead into Wimbledon, where nobody will be dropping points this year. He is guaranteed to hold World No. 1 at least three weeks (Eastbourne/Mallorca and Wimbledon), which will bring him to 28 weeks overall. Carlos Alcaraz will be the first player not named Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, or Murray to be No. 1 seed at Wimbledon since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.
“Of course, recovering the No. 1 before Wimbledon, it gives you extra motivation, it gives you extra confidence coming into Wimbledon,” Alcaraz said after triumphing at The Queen’s Club. “But it doesn’t change too much if I play Wimbledon as the No. 2 or the No. 1.
This is certainly not the last time the top spot will be in contention as Djokovic will try to regain top ranking from his younger rival going into Wimbledon as he makes a push to reach 400 weeks at World No. 1. The Serbian has already reached 389 weeks, 79 weeks more than the second-placed Roger Federer (310 weeks).
As things stand, Alcaraz and Djokovic are poised for a year-long battle for year-end ATP No. 1 presented by Pepperstone. Alcaraz earned the honor for the first time last year, becoming the youngest in history to do so. Djokovic holds the record for most year-end No. 1 finishes with seven, the most recent coming in 2021.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
