Daniil Medvedev talked about the race for the year-end No.1 on the sidelines of the ongoing China Open. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are locked in a tussle for the coveted spot, but Medvedev believes the latter will come out on top. He gave a logical reason for his prediction. However, Djokovic has a big lead, which would not be easy for Alcaraz to overcome.
Djokovic will not be participating in the Asian swing, but Alcaraz is set to play a couple of tournaments. He could narrow the gap and be close on the Serb’s heels. Medvedev is a distant third, something he acknowledged as well.
Medvedev predicts Carlos Alcaraz to overtake Novak Djokovic
The Shanghai Masters headlines the Asian swing, sandwiched between two ATP 500 events. The China Open is underway, and Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev have won their respective first matches in straight sets. The top two seeds have already qualified for the ATP Finals but will want to go all the way. Alcaraz, especially, will look to win the title and close in on the year-end No.1 spot.
Djokovic is sitting on a sizeable lead atop the table. He has, however, opted to skip the Asian swing entirely. Alcaraz will want to take advantage and come within touching distance of the No.1 rank. Medvedev, third in the list by some distance, discussed this race to the top. He said he plays every competition to win it because he wishes to keep his wish of being No.1 alive.
“Everywhere I go I try to become champion, so the dream of being number one is still alive.”
Medvedev, though, admitted he is far behind the top two. Hence, he said his current target is to finish the year in the top two so he can push for the No.1 rank in early 2024. The Russian believed Alcaraz will be the year-end No.1 because Novak Djokovic will be selective about his participation. Medvedev added that he will continue to give his best.
“However, I am aware that I am very far away and that my fight must be more about trying to finish in the top two and stay close to the top so that I can conquer it at the beginning of 2024. I don’t think Novak will play many tournaments, so logic dictates that Carlos Alcaraz will be number 1 at the end of the year. I will give my best in every tournament I play.”
As the race for the prized No.1 rank heats up, anything less than the title will disappoint Alcaraz. Participating in the China Open and the Shanghai Masters, he will have 1500 points for the taking. This will put him very close to Djokovic, not to mention a bumper combined prize purse of over $1,800,000.
A look at the Year-End No.1 race
Novak Djokovic’s absence means there are bigger things at stake for Carlos Alcaraz in his maiden Asian campaign. The Serb capped off yet another incredible Grand Slam season with three Majors titles. This put him atop the ranking charts with a massive lead.
The gap is so large that Alcaraz will not cover it even if he wins the China Open and the Shanghai Masters. However, he has no points to defend because both tournaments are being held after four years. The two-time Grand Slam winner will look to close the gap as much as possible.
Alcaraz has a slight advantage over Djokovic in the coming months. The 24-time Majors winner has a bunch of points to defend, having won the ATP 500 Astana Open last year and more importantly, the ATP Finals. Alcaraz, meanwhile, missed this stretch of the season last year due to injury, hence has nothing to defend.
The Spaniard will give his best to become the year-end No.1 for the second consecutive year, but his rival will likely stave off the challenge. Djokovic is in imperious form and has the experience and knack of winning important tournaments
