ATP Rankings: Carlos Alcaraz chasing No 1, Daniil Medvedev back in top five

ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz plays a shot

Carlos Alcaraz has a shot at returning to the top spot on the ATP Rankings, but he needs to win Indian Wells, or the opportunity will slip by.

As defending champion in Miami, Alcaraz cannot gain any points across the fortnight, and after that, it is likely that Novak Djokovic will return to action with a shot at holding onto or regaining the top spot.

Alcaraz has been in good form, but he will need to get beyond the form player on the ATP Tour right now in Daniil Medvedev.

Himself a former world No 1, Medvedev has been on a charge back up the rankings following his slips at the US Open and Melbourne.

Medvedev is on a 19-match winning streak with three titles already in the bag and a fourth on offer on Sunday.

While he can further close the gap to world No 4 Casper Ruud, Medvedev can’t do better than a rise to fifth whether he wins or loses the final.

Despite losing to Alcaraz in the last eight, Felix Auger-Aliassime is set to make a big jump from tenth to sixth leapfrogging Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune and Rafael Nadal.

Nadal’s tumble out of the top ten stops at 13th for now, while Indian Wells losing semi-finalists Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe are threatening to crack the elite bracket.

Taylor Fritz drops five places to tenth after failing to defend his maiden Masters’ title at Indian Wells.

The drop by Fritz leaves him within range of both Tiafoe and Tommy Paul in the American No 1 race.

Holger Rune holds onto his eighth spot on the ladder while Hubert Hurkacz breaks back into the top ten of the ATP Rankings as he rises to ninth.

If Alcaraz is able to snatch the top spot at Indian Wells, he will be faced with a stiff task to hold onto it through the Miami Open.

Alcaraz will need to defend his Miami Open title to avoid dropping back into second on the rankings with Djokovic not on the hook to defend any points across the Sunshine Double.

Ruud and world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas won’t threaten the top spot this week or in Miami.

Cameron Norrie remains the British No 1 as the world no 12 while both Andy Murray rises three places to 52nd while Jack Draper jumps 13 places to 42nd in the world.

READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz sets Indian Wells showdown with Daniil Medvedev

Carlos Alcaraz

Latest