This Monday, like every week, the ATP ranking has been updated and there it appears Novak Djokovic again number 1 in the world. Thus, as expected, the Serbian achieved his 378th week as leader of the world rankings and surpassed Steffi Graf’s record for singles. Ahead of both, only the legendary doubles players Mike (506) and Bob Bryan (439).
After winning his tenth Australian Open and reach a record 22 Grand Slams of Raphael Nadal, Freight will return to official competition this week at Dubai ATP 500 looking for the top position defense he made up for with his crown in Melbourne. follows closely Charles Alcaraz, recent finalist in Rio de Janeiro and aimed to play the Acapulco ATP 500. Today the advantage of one over the other is 200 points.
alcaraz did not play last year in Acapulco, while Djokovic The 90 points obtained in Dubai in 2022 had already been taken away last week after reaching the quarterfinals and losing to Jiri Vesely. Therefore, both will have everything to add and the accounts speak for themselves in this fight inch by inch for the number 1.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who climbed to the top of the standings after winning the US Open, He must reach the final of the Mexican tournament to have a chance to recover that privileged place. If he succeeds, there are two possible scenarios: 1- if he is champion, he will need Novak to not reach the semifinals on the other side of the world and 2- if he ends up as a finalist, he will have to hope that the Balkan doesn’t reach the semifinals.
At the same time, there may be a tie. If Alcaraz adds up the 500 champion points and Djokovic is a finalist (300), they would equal 7280 units. In that case the advantage will be for the Serbian, given that he adds others in the so-called “Big Tournaments” (Slam, Masters 1000 and ATP Finals): 5830 against 5100.
In any case, the physique of Carlitos pauses all such calculations. He is registered in Acapulco, but his presence is in doubt afterwards due to a nuisance in the hamstring of his right leg, the same one that kept him away from the slopes at the beginning of the year. finished the final Rio de Janeiro with pain in that area and in a press conference did not dare to confirm its presence in the tournament that starts this Monday.
“Right now I don’t know”, he replied in this regard, immediately after the final loss in Brazil against Cameron Norrie. “I finished playing half an hour ago and it’s something we need to evaluate with my doctor and my physio. We need to see the severity of the hamstring injury and see if I can play in Acapulco without risk. I really want to play there. I’ll do everything I can to recover and be there.” commented.
The latest information indicates that he will travel to Mexico, where he will carry out his medical studies and, if positive, he will take the field on Tuesday for his debut against the American. Mackenzie McDonald. He won’t force his physique, since then the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami will arrive, where he defends 1360 points after being semifinalist and champion last year.
Action for the Argentines
In addition to Dubai and Acapulco, the week of the men’s circuit will also see Chile in action with the Santiago ATP 250 and there will be a large number of Argentinian tennis players there.
Francisco Cerúndolo, Sebastián Báez and Diego Schwartzman, the best Albiceleste representatives in the standings will start from the second round, just like the Italian Lorenzo Musetto, first seed.
They will also say present Facundo Bagnis, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Tomás Martín Etcheverry and there will be a duel of compatriots in the first round between Juan Manuel Cerundolo AND Pedro Cachin.
For his part, Guido Andreozzi He passed the qualifications in Dubai and will have a difficult debut against the Norwegian Casper Ruud.
Argentines in the Top 100
- 32nd Francesco Cerundolo
- 35th Sebastian Baez
- 37th Diego Schwartzman
- 58th Federico Coria
- 61st Pedro Cachin
- 76th Tomas Martin Etcheverry
- 94th Facundo Bagnis
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.