World no. 1 Novak Djokovic is spending his 384th week on the ATP throne, moving 16 from an incredible milestone. Novak decided to skip this week’s Madrid Masters, struggling with the pain in his right hand and wanting to sort it out ahead of Rome and Roland Garros.The Serb is 1005 points clear of Carlos Alcaraz on the live ATP ranking list and will keep the no. 1 spot even if the young Spaniard defends his title at Caja Magica. Alcaraz defended the Barcelona Open title on Sunday to stay in touch with Djokovic and will have to embrace another good run in Madrid to follow the Serb’s pace.
If Carlos wins Madrid, he will become world no. 1 after Rome, skipping the last year’s event at Foro Italico while Novak went all the way and collected 1000 ATP points. Djokovic has secured three more weeks at the top, moving to 387 no.
1 weeks and closer to an incredible milestone. However, Alcaraz will pass him on May 22 if he wins the Madrid title and become the Roland Garros top seed. Djokovic missed two Majors and four Masters 1000 events in 2022, alongside 2000 well-earned points for the Wimbledon crown.
However, he wrapped up the season in the top-5 with a strong finish, earning a chance to chase the ATP throne at the beginning of 2023. Djokovic conquered Adelaide after fending off a match point against Sebastian Korda in the final and wished for more in Melbourne.
The Serb injured his left leg in Adelaide and did not look good at the start of his Australian Open campaign.
However, Novak recovered and stormed over his opponents from the fourth round to advance into the title clash.
Djokovic faced Stefanos Tsitsipas and scored a 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 56 minutes for his 22nd Major trophy and the seventh world no. 1 reign. Novak lost it to Alcaraz when a teenager claimed the Indian Wells title and restored it after Miami.
The young gun had to go all the way in Miami for the second straight year to keep the ATP throne, failing to achieve that and pushing Djokovic in front. Thus, Novak started his eighth reign on the ATP throne, matching Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl.
Djokovic and Alcaraz should have battled for no. 1 spot in Monte Carlo, but the Spaniard withdrew due to an injury. However, Novak could not take advantage of that following the third-round loss to Lorenzo Musetti. The Serb felt the pain in his right hand and struggled behind the initial shot in both matches.
He defeated Ivan Gakhov before falling against the Italian in three sets. Musetti lost the opener and trailed in set number two before overcoming the deficit and introducing a decider. The rain sent them off the court at the start of the decider, and the Italian gained a crucial break once they returned to score a career-best victory.
Novak could not raise his level at the home event in Banja Luka, losing to Dusan Lajovic in the quarter-final but doing enough to remain in front of Carlos Alcaraz at least until the Rome Masters ends.
