Alcaraz schedule choice provides Djokovic one thing to fret about

Novak Djokovic’s rating might be underneath risk on the Rome Masters as he appears to be like to defend his title. The world No 1 was forced to miss Madrid this week with an harm however continues to be on the entry checklist for the upcoming Italian Open. And with Carlos Alcaraz confirming his intentions to play in Rome, the Serb might be compelled to have a deep run with the intention to shield the No 1 spot.

Djokovic missed the Madrid Open with an elbow harm after being noticed carrying strapping in each Monte Carlo and Belgrade – the place he suffered two early exits. The 35-year-old is now 2-2 for wins and losses on the clay this season and could have an additional factor to fret about in Rome, the place he might be knocked off the highest spot.

Alcaraz has already revealed that he’s planning to play the Italian Open after lacking it final 12 months, and he’ll solely be better off with zero factors to defend on the occasion. “Yeah, my plan is going to Rome,” he mentioned after profitable his Madrid quarter-final.

“Well, it depends here and how I finish this tournament, but yeah, I would love to play in Rome. This is a tournament that I really want to play. Right now this is my plan.” And if he is ready to win Madrid this week, he’ll go into Rome simply 5 rating factors behind Djokovic.

As the Spaniard may even get a first-round bye as one of many prime seeds in Italy, he’ll robotically decide up 10 rating factors only for taking part in the occasion and would transfer previous Djokovic it doesn’t matter what the Serb does. But even when Alcaraz doesn’t defend his Madrid title, he could have a shot on the prime spot in Rome.

After reaching the semi-final this week, he now has 6,130 factors within the reside rankings in comparison with Djokovic’s 6,775. With a runner-up spot in Spain Alcaraz could have 6,370 and a title would earn him 6,770. It implies that even when the 19-year-old loses his match towards Karen Khachanov on Friday, the title in Rome would make him the brand new world No 1 on May 22.

With Djokovic defending the title on the Italian Open, he can solely hold or lose his present factors tally. And Alcaraz may not be the one participant the 22-time Major champion has to fret about relying on what Stefanos Tsitsipas can do in Madrid.