Zverev depends on himself to reach number one: he must win in Paris. Photo EFE / EPA / YOAN VALAT
Much was said in the early days of Roland Garros about the number one in the world, after the decision of the ATP to deprive Wimbledon of its points, due to the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players, left Novak Djokovic without the possibility of defending the 2,000 won last year and the top of the standings in London. But the Serbian’s fall against Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the French Grand Slam, where he was also crowned in 2021, anticipated the change of command. freight will give up leadership in the coming weeks, it is a fact. Although we will have to wait to know when and in whose hands. And it all depends on how far Alexander Zverev goes on Parisian clay.
The German depends on himself to climb the summit for the first time in his career. But for this he must be crowned champion at Roland Garros this Sunday, a requirement that is not easy to satisfy, especially if we take into account that this Friday, not before 9:45 am in Argentina, he will clash with Nadal, the king of Paris, in one of the semi-finals of the tournament.
Yes sasha The French Major does not win, who will remain with the first step will be Daniil Medvedev, surprisingly eliminated in the second round by the Croatian Marin Cilic. But in that case, the Russian will have to wait another week to dethrone Djokovic, due to a curious situation that occurred in 2022.
Djokovic’s fall in favor of Nadal anticipated the change of command, which had yet to take place after Wimbledon. Photo Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
Since last year Roland Garros ended a week later than this year, the points distributed in that edition will only expire on 13 June. For this reason, when the new ranking is published next Monday, Djokovic will lose 250 wins at the ATP in Belgrade, which was played in 2021 in view of the French Open, but will keep the 2,000 he won by winning the title in Paris one more week. . Thus the Serbian will present himself with 8,770 points.
Medvedev will have 8,160 points, which will not be enough to beat freight. Meanwhile, Zverev could remain with 9,075 points if he wins the Paris Grand Slam title. And so he will be the new number one, escorted by the Serbian, in second place, and by the Russian, in third.
If Zverev doesn’t lift the trophy, Djokovic will stay on top for another seven days. The German will rise to second place if he plays the final in Paris (he will reach 8,275); but if you lose with Rafa in the semifinal (7,795), he will remain third, behind Medvedev.
Medvedev lost in the round of 16 at Roland Garros to Cilic, but could still return to number 1 on 13 June. Photo REUTERS / Dylan Martinez
In the next ranking update, Monday 13 June, there may be a new change. Because that day Djokovic will lose his 2,000 Roland Garros 2021 points; Medvedev will give up 360 (he reached the quarter-finals in the last edition); and Zverev, 720 (seeds).
Therefore, the Serbian will have 6,770 units and the Russian 7,800. And again, everything will depend on what the German will do at the end of the second “big” of the year.
If Zverev wins his first Grand Slam this week, he will have 8,355 points on June 13 and appear as the leader of the standings. If he loses in the semifinals (he would remain at 7,075) or in the final (7,555), the number one will go to Medvedev. And in one of these two scenarios, Djokovic will go down to the third step, his worst finish since the beginning of October 2018.
Meanwhile, Nadal will jump to fourth place after Roland Garros, but not even by winning the title will he return to the top 3.
Djokovic will drop to third in the rankings, his worst position since October 2018. Photo Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)
As always when it comes to changes in the ATP ranking, there are many possible scenarios. To pass clean: Zverev will be number one if he wins Roland Garros. If not, Medvedev will return to the top. And whatever happens, Djokovic will drop to number three and put an end to a historical statistic, which sees him and his fellow “Fantastic Four” (Roger Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray) as protagonists.
It is that on June 13, for the first time in 18 years and seven months, there will not be a member of that elite group among the top two in the world rankings.
The last time that situation occurred was in the week of November 10, 2003, when the American Andy Roddick was number one, the Spaniard Giovanni Carlo Ferrero was second, and Federer, third. The following week, the Swiss moved up to second place (which he had briefly held a few months earlier) and started that incredible streak that will end in ten days.
Will it be the changing of the guard that has been talked about for a few years in men’s tennis, when the generation of Medvedev and Zverev bursts onto the circuit? Or just a momentary fall of Djokovic, the only survivor of that golden age who is still at the top and refuses to give up the throne?
Source: Clarin
