Rankings freeze due to the coronavirus crisis ‘unfair’ on Novak Djokovic, says top tennis analyst

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Novak Djokovic Davis Cup disappointment

Novak Djokovic should be credited with weeks at number one despite the rankings freeze brought about by the coronavirus crisis, it has been claimed.

Tennis is currently on lockdown, including the rankings, while the world tries to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

That means Djokovic will have to wait to accrue the weeks he needs to topple Roger Federer in the record books for most weeks spent at world number one.

And that, according to some, is unfair.

“He earned the ranking, and he was going to be No.1 for a while even if things went on as normal,” analyst Brad Gilbert told ESPN.

“Going into Indian Wells, Djokovic was going to stay No.1 by the end, unless he lost before the semis and Rafa won the tournament.”

Darren Cahill, who coaches Romanian star Simona Halep, agrees and says WTA equivalent Ashleigh Barty is in the same boat.

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“[Djokovic should get that credit] until the next major, and then I’m a bit unsure of what is the right thing to do,” Cahill said.

“These weeks he would have retained the No.1. The same goes for Barty.”

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