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Novak Djokovic ATP

Djokovic learns how to keep World No.1 spot following Madrid semi’s loss


French Open champion Novak Djokovic has learned what he must do at this week’s Rome Masters to keep a hold of his world number one ranking after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid Open semi-finals.

Djokovic was beaten by teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz for the first time on Sunday as the two battled it out for a final spot at the Madrid Masters.

Djokovic led the teenager by a set and had a chance to break and serve for the match in the second but ended up falling in three as Alcaraz went on to win his second career Masters 1000 title.

The Serb’s 369 week stay at the summit of the ATP rankings is currently under threat as Daniil Medvedev, who already ousted Djokovic from the top of the rankings in February, announced on Saturday he is set to return in time for the French Open as he is is scheduled to debut at the Geneva Open next week.

Now, with his loss to Alcaraz, Djokovic will be under pressure to perform in Rome or lose his spot at the top.

As last year’s winner, Djokovic is defending 600 points in Rome. He also had 500 to defend in Madrid from the 2019 final, which had been frozen to his ranking during the pandemic. He will now need to reach a second consecutive semi-final next week to stay as the world number one when the rankings are updated on May 14th.

With the US Open champion now confirmed to be back in time for the French Open, Djokovic will want to retain his ranking so he can go into the tournament as the top seed rather than the second.

Djokovic also will face a huge battle to keep the top spot in the ATP rankings in Paris with the man from Belgrade defending the maximum 2,000 points and unable to add any onto his standing.

Whereas Russia’s Medvedev is defending just 360 points after reaching the quarter-final last year and could gain up to 1,640 points if he outperforms his 2021 showing.

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