Novak Djokovic makes a big leap above Carlos Alcaraz in updated tennis rankings

Kevin Palmer
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic may have bowed out the Australian Open in disappointing fashion after injury forced him to retire in his semi-final against Alexander Zverev, but he admitted he left Melbourne with renewed hopes for 2025.

Many observers had suggested 37-year-old Djokovic could not longer beat Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz after a 2024 that saw the young guns of the men’s game sin two major titles each.

Yet the 24-time Grand Slam king confirmed he is still a match for the best in the game with a majestic performance to beat Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Now the updated UTR Ratings confirm that win against Alcaraz has fired Djokovic above the young Spaniard and up to No 2 in the updated list.

This UTR rating is endorsed by Djokovic and uses an algorithm that calculates the rankings based on recent form rather than the year-round calculation of the ATP Ranking.

Victories against higher-ranked played are worth more in the UTR list than the official ATP or WTA Ranking, meaning they offer up a more accurate reflection of the current form at the top of the game.

That explains why Djokovic’s big win gave him such a big boost in these rankings, with his ATP ranking set to be at No 6 when the new list is released on Monday.

The UTR Rankings are based on the current form from the last few weeks and months rather than reflecting results that occurred up to a year ago, with the system created to promote fair and competitive play across the tennis world.

All players, regardless of age, gender, geography, or skill level, are rated on the same scale between 1.00 and 16.50 based on actual match results.

The UTR Ranking is open to players of all levels of the game and the algorithm used provides an intriguing insight at the top of the game.

Djokovic’s comprehensive win suggests he will be a contender for the other three Grand Slams if he remains fit this year, with the prospect of Sinner facing a potential ban from tennis following his failed drug tests last year possibly clearly the Serbian’s path to what would be a record-breaking 25the Grand Slam title.

He is currently tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam wins and as he left Melbourne, he admitted he felt more upbeat about his prospects after some encouraging displays.

“Injury is the biggest enemy of a professional athlete,” he said after he failed to finish the match against Zverev.

“In the past, I managed certain injuries, like the one you mentioned a few years ago that to some extent even helped me play better and win the tournament.

“It wasn’t to be this time. That’s okay. I cannot throw away all the incredible memories and results and achievements that I’ve achieved here over the years just because this year I retired in the semi-finals.

“I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months, to be honest.

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“I liked my chances today. Who knows? Of course, it was never going to be an easy battle, an easy match for me. Neither it was for Sascha, even if I was not injured. But as I said, I think I was striking the ball very well. A lot of positives to take in terms of how I played semi-finals.

“It’s very good results in this tournament considering the circumstances, but it’s not satisfying to me, you know, for my standards.

“I always look for the highest goal, to reach the finals and fight for a trophy.”

Djokovic’s disappointment was palpable as he faced the media in his post-match press conference after the Zverev match, but his performances in Melbourne confirmed he is still a big contender for all the biggest prizes in tennis at the age of 37.

UPDATED UTR RATING
1. Jannik Sinner
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Carlos Alcaraz
4. Alexander Zverev
5. Taylor Fritz
6. Tommy Paul
7. Jack Draper
8. Alex De Minaur
9. Ugo Humbert
10. Daniil Medvedev

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