Carlos Alcaraz set to return to World No.2 after latest China Open win

Carlos Alcaraz will return to World No.2 next week come what may in the ATP Rankings after sealing his latest win at the 2024 China Open in Beijing.

Alcaraz saw off Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2 in a pretty comprehensive win for the Spaniard. He now faces off against Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the final after another successful week. Also his lack of success last season in trying to reach World No.1 may work in reverse this year as he has little to lose.

But he regains second spot after Alexander Zverev surprisingly ascended to it in recent months. Zverev though lost his points from not defending his Chengdu title which means that he fell into the traps of Alcaraz.

He also withdrew from the China Open this week with complications of pneumonia which has supposedly affected him in recent months. He will not only drop the Chengdu points but also a run to last year's China Open semi-final.

This suddenly hoists Alcaraz into position to take over second spot. Albeit he is still far away from Jannik Sinner. The Italian sits on 10,780 albeit he will look to defend points this week and not gain them.

While Alcaraz at the moment only sits a few points ahead of Zverev as opposed to streaking away from him. So likely it is something that go back and forth over the next few months.

Novak Djokovic also has a chance to get back in contention next week. As ever not really playing this time of the year, this means any points he does add until Paris at least are gains including when he plays Shanghai next week. He will play that tournament for the first time in five years so no points will come off his rankings. But for Alcaraz at least, he has surged ahead of the pack at least for now.