New UTR tennis rankings are released and Carlos Alcaraz will not be happy
The UTR rankings offer an alternative view of the current state of play in tennis and their updated listings are very different than the latest ATP rankings.
Carlos Alcaraz will return to the top of the official tennis rankings on Monday, after knocking Novak Djokovic off the top spot following a stunning run of form that saw him win the Indian Wells and Miami Masters events, as well as lifting the trophy at the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open.
Yet that run of form has not propelled Alcaraz to the top of the UTR rankings, where Djokovic reigns supreme.
Teenage sensation Alcaraz doesn’t even make the top two in the latest UTR listings, with the in-form Daniil Medvedev sneaking in ahead of third-placed Alcaraz.
The points difference between the top three has tightened considerably since the last round of UTR rankings and the order could change dramatically depending on what happens at the French Open.
Intriguingly, Nick Kyrgios is still in the top five of the UTR rankings, with the method used to devise this list not so harsh on players who are ruled out of the action due to injury.
Djokovic was beaten by rising star Holger Rune at the Italian Open and while he has set his sights on a 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open, the legendary Serbian admits the change at the top of the men’s game is now coming.
“A new generation is here already,” Djokovic told reporters. “Alcaraz is number one in the world from Monday he’s playing fantastic tennis. I think it’s also good for our sport to have new faces, new guys coming up.
“We’ve been saying for years that we can expect that moment to come when you have a kind of shift of generations.
“I’m still trying to hang in there with all of them. I still have the hunger to keep going. Let’s see how far I’m going to play.”
Novak No. 1️⃣
Thoughts on our Top 10 men's rankings for May? 👀📈 pic.twitter.com/SFfg1QHMQd
— UTR Sports (@UTR_Sports_) May 12, 2023
The battle for the world No 1 ranking will resume when the French Open gets underway.
Djokovic reached the quarter-finals in Paris last year and that means he will be collecting fresh ranking points if he gets to the semi-final and beyond.
Alcaraz was also beaten in the quarter-finals of the French Open last year and will be hoping to improve on that performance when the tournament gets underway on May 29th.
Intriguingly, Nick Kyrgios is still in the top five of these
The battle for the world No 1 ranking will resume when the French Open gets underway.
Djokovic reached the quarter-finals in Paris last year and that means he will be collecting fresh ranking points if he gets to the semi-final and beyond.
Alcaraz was also beaten in the quarter-finals of the French Open last year and will be hoping to improve on that performance when the tournament gets underway on May 29th.
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic facing new rankings hammer blow ahead of French Open