Rome: Why Carlos Alcaraz became number 1 again just by stepping onto the pitch
Carlos Alcaraz (ATP No. 2) will again be number 1 in the tennis world after the Masters tournament in Rome. Curious above all because he shouldn't even have won - he just had to compete.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
May 14, 2023, 10:27 am
The usual path to changing the guard in tennis world rankings is well known: Player A is having a great tournament week, unlike the year before - while Player B, the previous number 1, may not be able to defend or increase his points. Old hat, at least for tennis connoisseurs.
On Saturday in Rome the situation was a more unusual one. Because the number 1 in the world, Novak Djokovic, started the tournament with 6,775 points; Chaser Alcaraz with 6,770 points. Djokovic had won the tournament last year, so he had 1,000 points to defend and couldn't gain anything. Alcaraz hadn't played, so he was able to score fully.
It was clear that if Alcaraz won even one round, he would overtake Djokovic - even if he was to win the title again later. Because he would not be able to offer more than his previous points.
Carlos Alcaraz: From the way out of the locker room to number 1
But crazy and very special: Alcaraz had already made number 1 clear at the start of the game, almost on the way from the changing room to the pitch. Because even if he was eliminated from the start or surrender, he would have received 10 points (if he didn't show up: 0). And 6,770 plus 10? Are 6,780 points. And so Alcaraz had already fixed number 1 again at the start of the match (at least from May 22nd, tomorrow there will be no new ranking due to the two-week tournament).
A funny arithmetic game that was done shortly afterwards anyway - because Alcaraz won his match, even scored 45 points, and is currently at 6,815 points in the live ranking. While Djokovic, who was also victorious, can still keep his 6,775 points at most.
Carlos Alcaraz is also number 1 in Roland Garros
Alcaraz will also start at the French Open (from May 28th) as number 1 on the seeding list. But he also knows: "Whether I'm in first or second place: Not that much changes for me." He just concentrates on the tournament and his game.
In any case, the question of 1 or 2 in a major is quite irrelevant because the numbers 3 and 4 are drawn in the two halves of the semifinals. Nevertheless, Roland Garros 2023 will be the first Grand Slam tournament in which the 20-year-old will greet from the top - should he compete. Because the Australian Open 2023, at the beginning of which Alcaraz was still number 1, he had missed due to injury.
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