Effect of Medvedev loss for Alcaraz as World No.1 spot out of reach likely for remainder of 2023 season

Spain’s young tennis Carlos Alcaraz is unlikely to reclaim the top spot in the ATP rankings this year.

The 20-year-old became the talk of the town after beating Serbia’s legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic in a five-set thrilling final of Wimbledon 2023 in July earlier this year with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.

However, Alcaraz’s title defence at the Flashing Medows did not go down as per the plan where he lost to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal with a score of 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday.

That result will not go down well as it means that the El Palmar-born will not only lose the top spot in the ATP rankings but he will not be able to reclaim it in the remainder of the season as well.

Djokovic, who has already booked his place in the final of the US Open after defeating America’s Ben Shelton in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 7-6, is set to overtake Alcaraz to become the world number one player from Monday, September 11.

Alcaraz, who started the competition with 9,815 points, dropped 2,000 points for defending the title and managed to win only 720 points to reach the semifinal of the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year. Therefore, his total points tally after the US Open will be close to 8,500.

On the other hand, Djokovic started the mega-event with 9,575 points and has already claimed at least 1,200 points after reaching the final, thus taking his overall points tally closer to 11,000.

Therefore, it is nearly impossible for Alcaraz to overcome this difference in the remainder of the ATP tour this year which will be completed in the next two months.

Djokovic will face off against the current world number three Medvedev in the rematch of the US Open 2021 final in New York on Sunday.