Carlos Alcaraz issues warning to Novak Djokovic – ‘I will try to recover No 1 spot as soon as possible’
Novak Djokovic may have won the latest round in the battle for the world No 1 ranking, but Carlos Alcaraz has warned that he will work hard to return to the top as soon as possible.
The top spot in the ATP Rankings will change hands for a seventh time this year at the conclusion of the US Open as Djokovic will overtake Alcaraz following his win on Monday.
The equation was always straightforward as reigning New York champion Alcaraz is defending 2,000 points while his main rival came in with a clean slate as he didn’t compete at the season-ending Grand Slam last year.
Thus, all the 23-time Grand Slam winner had to do was beat Alexandre Muller in his opening-round match and he did that without any fuss.
It will bring an end to Alcaraz’s fourth stint at the top, but he is determined to return to No 1 at the earliest opportunity.
“Right now it’s a goal for me honestly. I said before that we are having a really good battle for the No 1, Novak and I,” the Spaniard said.
“I knew that he was going to recover the No 1 after US Open. When the tournament is over, I will try to recover it as soon as possible. That’s my goal. I am working for that.
“The season has a lot of tournaments until the year is over. I’ll try to recover it before the year ends.”
The 20-year-old, though, will face an uphill battle to regain top spot if Djokovic goes on to win the title as the gap will be more than 2,000 points.
However, there are still two more ATP Masters 1000 events – the Shanghai Masters and the Paris Masters – left this year as well as the ATP Finals where an undefeated champion can earn a maximum of 1,500 points.
Alcaraz kicked off his title defence with a 60-minute win over Dominik Koepfer on Tuesday with the German forced to retire midway through the second set.
The 20-year-old, though, is not feeling pressure as the defending champion.
“I was excited to play my first round here in US Open. I mean, it was great to step on court again in the Arthur Ashe after such a great run last year. I was excited to come back,” he said.
“I’m not thinking about the defending the title. I was not thinking about I was the champion last year. I just focus on play my best level, to recover the level that I played last year, try to do same things that I did last year. That’s the only thing that I’m thinking right now.
“I try to be apart about all the pressure people put of me about the defending champion.”
