Novak Djokovic faces rankings slide as two players could overtake him this week
Novak Djokovic headed into the Madrid Open eyeing a move into the top four of the ATP Rankings, but he is in danger of moving backwards after his surprise defeat against Matteo Arnaldi.
A brutally honest Djokovic suggested he was facing a “new reality” after slumping to a third straight defeat as he was beaten by unseeded Italian Arnaldi in the Spanish capital.
World No 5 Djokovic’s latest loss came on the back of a defeat by Jakob Mensik in the Miami final, before bowing out of the Monte Carlo Masters against Alejandro Tabilo, with post-match comments fuelling speculation over his future in the game.
“Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say,” said Djokovic.
“Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament – it’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis.
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“It’s a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in tournaments.”
Djokovic would have been keen to jump into the top four of the ATP Rankings ahead of the French Open as that would avoid a potential meeting with world No 1 Jannik Sinner as early as the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
Yet Djokovic’s bigger concern now may be a slide in his ATP Ranking after a worrying slump in form that may well leave him to ask if he can still compete at the top of the game with his 38th birthday looming large next month.
With so many shocks littering the draw at the Madrid Open, world No 6 Jack Draper may be eyeing up a deep run in the tournament and he has a big chance to overtake Djokovic.
Draper would need a run to the semi-finals in Madrid to move past Djokovic in the rankings and the British player is growing in confidence on clay courts.
“I am still relatively new to the clay,” Draper told Sky Sports Tennis.
“I used my forehand really well, my backhand was solid. Everything was ticking over nicely.
“Obviously, I am in a different position now and that feels great, but in tennis, you’ve got to forget about the last week, the last two weeks, you’ve got to prove yourself today.
“I don’t really think about that, I just try to keep working hard, listening to my coach, doing all the right things.”
Australia’s Alex de Minaur could also overhaul Djokovic in the ATP Rankings in Madrid and he may need a run to the final to turn that ambition into a reality.
Tommy Paul could also rise to world No 4 if he can win the Madrid Open, with Djokovic’s slide in fortunes opening the door for his rivals to achieve the aim of leaping ahead of him in the rankings before he calls time on his career.
Djokovic has a lot of ranking points to defend from a run to the French Open quarter-finals and the Wimbledon final in 2024 over the next few weeks and there is a possibility that he could slip out of the top 10 of the rankings if his form fails to improve by the time he plays in those tournaments.
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