ATP Masters Cincinnati: Carlos Alcaraz targets number two
With a tournament victory in Cincinnati,Carlos Alcaraz would advance to second place in the world rankings - and thus definitely save himself a duel with Daniil Medvedev before the final at the US Open.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit:
Aug 19, 2022, 02:19 pm
The last Grand Slam tournament of the year is already casting its shadow. Before the main draw action begins in New York on August 29, the draw for this year's US Open will take place four days earlier. And the positions in the world rankings are not yet definitive.
Because although it has been clear since Rafael Nadal's early defeat at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati that Daniil Medvedev is tackling the US Open as the industry leader, decisive things could still happen in the upper regions of the rankings. That is when Carlos Alcaraz wins the title in Ohio on Sunday.
Medvedev feels comfortable at the US Open
The 19-year-old would move up to second place in the world rankings with a triumph in Cincinnati and thus avoid a possible clash with Medvedev before the final at the US Open. Given that the Russian won the title at Flushing Meadows last year and also had strong results in 2020 (semifinals) and 2019 (finals), that would certainly not be an insignificant side effect for Alcaraz.
In any case, there are still a few question marks before the last major of the season. Whether Alexander Zverev, who - should Alcaraz not triumph in Cincinnati - would contest the US Open as number two, will serve in New York is just as uncertain as the start of Novak Djokovic. The Serb would be in fifth place in the "Big Apple" at best. A circumstance that would add even more spice to the draw.