World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz acknowledges Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas are his biggest rivals for the No 1 spot but noted “there are seven or eight players” who can contend for the top spot. Alcaraz, 19, entered the 2023 season ranked at No 1 in the world.
But after he picked up an injury and skipped the Australian Open, the Spaniard was replaced by Djokovic at the top spot after the Australian Open. “I have a good year ahead of me. I’m defending one title or another, I have some very nice tournaments ahead and I hope to enjoy them.
As you said, I’m fighting for the number one with Djokovic, Tsitsipas, they are the closest, but that does not mean that behind there are no other players. There is a very wide range of possibilities and players who can win Grand Slams and who can be fighting for the number one: I will not start naming because I do not want to leave any, but there are seven or eight players there who would deserve it and who have the level to be at the top,” Alcaraz said, per Sportskeeda.
How many ranking points Alcaraz does have?
Djokovic leads the ATP rankings list with 7,070 points, while second-ranked Alcaraz has 6,730 points. The next on the list is Tsitsipas, who has 5,940 points. Last week, Alcaraz won the title at an ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires.
This week, Alcaraz is the defending champion at an ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro. In March, Alcaraz will have a large chunk of ranking points to defend at the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. In Indian Wells, Alcaraz made the quarterfinal last year.
After a strong Indian Wells run, Alcaraz won his first Masters title in Miami. Alcaraz enjoyed two deep runs at the Sunshine Double last year and he has a good number of ranking points to defend in the upcoming period. It remains to be seen how many points Alcaraz can defend or gain in the upcoming period.
