The fight for number 1: Alcaraz may catch Djokovic, but the Serb has a little-known advantage that won't knock him off the top of world tennis

In his time at the

, in which he won the seventh title of his career (the first of this 2023),

acknowledged that one of the objectives of his season will be to try to recover the number one in the world, which

by winning his 22nd "big" at the

.

The fight for first place in the ranking resumes this week, with the Spaniard and the Serbian as protagonists, although without chances of a change at the top.

If he screams champion at the

's points harvest

, but even then he will not be able to move him.

Because according to the

will be higher

.

And in that sum, Djokovic takes advantage.

managed to be at the top of the WTA

, who remained at the top of the world ranking throughout the history of tennis- commands with 7,070 points.

Inactive since her consecration in Melbourne, he will not play this week, so in the next update, he will lose the 90 he achieved last year by reaching the quarterfinals in Dubai.

Thus, next Monday he will be left with 6,980.

Djokovic won in Australia and regained number one.

Photo REUTERS/Loren Elliott

The Spaniard is second with 6,480 and does not defend units this week.

If he wins the Rio de Janeiro tournament - in which he will debut against the local

, one of the organization's guests, and could meet

in his third game - he will add 500 points and also reach 6,980, equaling Djokovic.

It will be necessary, then, to break down the ranking of each one to break the parity.

In this tiebreaker, the points won in the four Majors will weigh (although it is worth remembering that last year,

did not deliver units, in retaliation by the ATP for the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players), the eight mandatory Masters 1000 (

is the only that does not fall into that group) and the Masters Tournament, which brings together the eight best of the season at the end of each year.

Djokovic has 2,000 from his victory in Australia in January, and 360 for reaching the quarterfinals in the last edition of

.

The Serb did not play the

in August , because he could not enter the United States because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Serbian also adds 1,960 of his performances in the Masters in Rome (he was champion), Paris (he was a finalist) and Madrid (semifinals);

and another 1,500 for his consecration at the ATP Finals in Turin.

In total, 5,820 points.

Alcaraz will defend many points in the coming weeks, including 1,000 from his title in Miami in 2022. Photo Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

Alcaraz also has 2,360 if the Grand Slams are counted: 2,000 from the title in New York and 360 from reaching the quarterfinals in Paris (he missed the Melbourne appointment, at the start of this year, due to a muscle injury in his right leg).

And another 2,730 of the Masters 1000, thanks to his victories in Miami and Madrid, the semis in Indian Wells, the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and Paris, and the second round in Montreal.

Absent in Turin last year, he would be left with 5,090, 730 fewer than Djokovic.

Thus, whatever happens with Alcaraz in Rio, the Serb already has No. 1 secured until at least March 5.

And he will also have a good chance of maintaining that position in the following weeks, because he will not defend points until the European clay-court tour, which starts in April.

While the Spanish will put a lot at stake in March, in Indian Wells and Miami.

Although Carlitos could also add a lot in the first of those Masters 1000, in the Californian desert, so he will have the chance to recover the number 1 before the start of the season of slow courts on the Old Continent, which will culminate with Roland Garros. 

look also

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Alcaraz showed all his hierarchy in the final against Norrie and is the champion of the Argentina Open