Novak Djokovic to hold No 1 ranking after Madrid Open regardless of outcome

Novak Djokovic on clay

World No 1 Novak Djokovic will extend his record time at the top of the ATP Rankings through at least the next two updates.

Djokovic could see his lead over World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz shrink, provided the Spaniard is able to replicate his Barcelona – Madrid double from last season.

The Serbian has pulled out of the Madrid Open, where he was a semi-finalist last season as he nurses an elbow injury that saw him play Banja Luka heavily strapped.

Djokovic’s early exit in Banja Luka will see him shed 105 rankings points this week and his withdrawal from Madrid will snap up another 360, however, his overall tally will not dip below the maximum achievable mark for Alcaraz.

For Alcaraz an early defeat in Madrid might see him drop one or two places in the rankings depending on who then goes on to do well.

Only Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev are within range and both would require a tournament win or run to the final coupled with an early for Alcaraz.

Stefanos Tsitsipas looks likely to hold his World No 5 position through Madrid, having cemented it with his run to the Barcelona Open final.

Tsitsipas has Munich and Banja Luka finalists Holger Rune and Andrey Rublev trying to close him down.

The Greek No 1 also has a task on his hands to defend his points gained in a 2022 run to the Madrid Open last four.

Meanwhile an early exit from Madrid could see 2022 finalist Alexander Zverev drop out of the top 20.

If former Masters champions Hubert Hurkacz or Cameron Norrie are able to add the Madrid title to their collection they would clinch a surge back into the top ten.

On the current ATP Live Rankings 10th place, occupied by Taylor Fritz holds a 630 point lead over No 15 Hurkacz.

Hurkacz suffered a quarterfinal defeat in Madrid last season which means he isn’t under any great pressure and could make a sizeable push with a deeper run this term.

Norrie was out of the 2022 Madrid Open by the third round and is also well-placed for a run on the top ten next week if he can find his game on clay.

Frances Tiafoe could become the new American No 1 if things go his way in Madrid.

Tiafoe is currently World No 11 just behind top American Fritz in 10th.

With two teenagers in the top ten right now in Holger Rune and Carlos Alcaraz, the next highest-ranked under-20 player is 18-year-old Frenchman Luca van Assche back at World No 86.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic’s reaction to his latest shock defeat could be telling

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