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Carlos Alcaraz will return to World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday, reclaiming the spot from Novak Djokovic after winning the Cinch Championships.
Djokovic had just taken World No. 1 himself after winning his record 23rd major title at Roland Garros. Two weeks later, the 20-year-old Spaniard will pass the Serbian and begin his 26th week at the top of the men’s tennis mountain.
Alcaraz Wins Queen’s Club Title, Earns Return To World No. 1
It will be the sixth time in 2023 that there has been a change at World No. 1, the most in a season since 2018 (seven). The six World No. 1 changes are the most in the first half of a year since 1983, when it swapped seven times through June.
Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings
It has been a constant battle between Alcaraz and Djokovic through the first half of the season and there are no signs it will slow down any time soon. Alcaraz will retain World No. 1 through Wimbledon, but top spot will be up for grabs at the grass-court major.
The 20-year-old will take an 80-point lead into Wimbledon, where nobody will be dropping points this year. He is guaranteed to hold World No. 1 at least three weeks (Eastbourne/Mallorca and Wimbledon), which will bring him to 28 weeks overall.
Djokovic must advance to at least the third round at Wimbledon to have a chance of reclaiming World No. 1. He then must outperform Alcaraz. Daniil Medvedev also has a chance of returning to World No. 1. Medvedev must win the title with Alcaraz failing to reach the fourth round and Djokovic losing before the quarter-finals.
“Of course, recovering the No. 1 before Wimbledon, it gives you extra motivation, it gives you extra confidence coming into Wimbledon,” Alcaraz said after triumphing at The Queen’s Club. “But it doesn’t change too much if I play Wimbledon as the No. 2 or the No. 1.”
Djokovic will try to wrestle the place back from his younger rival as he makes a push to become the first man or woman to reach 400 weeks at World No. 1. The Serbian has already reached 389 weeks, 79 weeks more than the second-placed man, Roger Federer (310 weeks).
As things stand, Alcaraz and Djokovic are poised for a year-long battle for year-end ATP No. 1 presented by Pepperstone. Alcaraz earned the honour for the first time last year, becoming the youngest in history to do so. Djokovic holds the record for year-end No. 1 finishes with seven, the most recent coming in 2021.
On the doubles court, the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings has seen a lot of movement in recent weeks. After Roland Garros, Austin Krajicek reached World No. 1, before Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski took back the position one week later. After triumphing at The Queen’s Club with Ivan Dodig, Krajicek will return to No. 1 again on Monday.
Did You Know?
Alcaraz on Sunday became the third Spaniard to win tour-level titles on hard, clay and grass courts in the same season in the past 15 years, joining Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. Alcaraz is the 10th different player to lift a trophy on all three surfaces since 2008.
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