The life of an elite athlete consists of exploring new challenges, looking for challenges right after conquering one and receiving moral feedback from the illusion of perpetuating himself in glory. Novak Djokovic has extensive experience when it comes to chaining unimaginable feats in the world of tennis and, once he has recovered the number 1 in the ATP ranking, you’ll want to keep it as long as possible. Although it is true that the Balkan has reiterated that this is no longer a priority for him and that he has already achieved the greatest achievements related to it, such as being the tennis player who accumulates the most weeks at the top of the table and the one who has the most years has finished number 1, the illusion that it would make it maintain that position in the coming weeks is undeniable. He will have competence for it since Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas they could take it away.
Alcaraz and Tsitsipas, the two players with options to discuss number 1 with Djokovic in the short term
It is the question that many fans will ask themselves since during this month of February, the ATP calendar will attend interesting events in which there will be a lot at stake. While is true that Novak Djokovic He only defends the 90 points he collected last year in Dubai, the Serb has already announced that he will be present at this tournament, in which he will seek to add a new title and expand his personal account of points. The curious circumstance arises that the Serb could reach the meeting in the United Arab Emirates under great pressure at a qualifying level since both Carlos Alcaraz as Stefanos Tsitsipas They will play events during this month of February in which they can score points.
On the part of the young Spaniard, his presence in the ATP 250 Buenos Aires 2023 It will raise great expectations as it will mean his return to the slopes. In the event of becoming champion, Carlitos would be only 90 points behind Djokovic, precisely the same points that the Serb defends in Dubai. However, before that, the Murcian is expected to go to Rio de Janeiro to defend the title won last year. Only an absolutely impeccable clay-court South American tour, with two titles, would give the Spaniard a chance to reach California as number 1, since everything would depend on what he did in Acapulco, where he would not defend any point, and what the team achieved. Balkan in the Middle East.
As for the Greek, he is expected to compete in the ATP 500 Rotterdam 2023, a very special tournament for him and in which he has a margin of gain in points since last year he was a finalist. In case of winning champion, he would add 200 points to his particular list of points, but then he would have the defense of the semifinals reached in Acapulco ahead. He has no real chance of reaching the US Masters 1000 at the top of the list, but he does have a chance to close the gap and look for a surprise in Indian Wells and Miami, tournaments in which he defends 135 points between the two.
The historical statistical challenge that Djokovic will conquer in February
Although it is true that Novak already holds almost all the records related to number 1, there is a historical milestone that he could conquer in the coming weeks. And it is that the person who accumulates the most weeks at the top of the ranking is not a man; Steffi Graf managed to be 377 in front of the WTA ranking and Djokovic could equal and/or exceed that number to become the human being with the most weeks being the best in the world. No matter how well Alcaraz does, he will not be able to prevent Novak from equaling this mark on February 20, being able to surpass it on February 27.
How could Carlos Alcaraz get to Indian Wells as number 1?
As bizarre as it may be, it is convenient to analyze the formula by which a new alternation could occur in the ranking ATP before the dispute ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 2023. The only one who has a real chance of it will be Carlos Alcaraz and this is what you would need:
- Winning the tournaments in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Acapulco, which would place him with 7,480 points
Thus, it could be said that Spanish depends on itself since, although Novak Djokovic If he won the Dubai tournament, he would have 7,480 points, so there is a possibility that the Serbian and Spanish will arrive tied in the ATP ranking at the start of the first Masters 1000 of the season. Obviously, if the man from Belgrade did not win the event that he will play in February in the United Arab Emirates, there would be a little more margin for Carlitos in his attempt to recover number 1.
