Sports
Because the North American no longer easy-court summer season ramps up this week with the mixed ATP-WTA Citi Commence in Washington DC, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are ranked as among the efficient singles avid gamers within the sector.
Alcaraz has been top of the ATP rankings since a hit Queen’s a month within the past and is in his fourth spell as world No. 1. Swiatek, meanwhile, is into her seventieth consecutive week as world No. 1, having taken over following Ashleigh Barty’s retirement in April 2022.
Both occupy narrow leads for the time being and will occupy a most amount of ranking facets to defend at the US Commence, which starts on August 28.
So what’s going to Alcaraz and Swiatek occupy to perform to stay as world No. 1 for the period of the summer season? And who’re their nearest challengers to take hang of over at the top?
Alcaraz v Djokovic for No. 1
The ATP world No. 1 ranking has ding-donged between Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic for the reason that outdated took over for the first time following his US Commence procure final summer season.
Djokovic’s Australian Commence victory earlier this yr observed him to find relieve to the summit, and he had two additional stints there sooner than Alcaraz reclaimed the sector No. 1 ranking after Queen’s.
Heading into the no longer easy-court summer season, Djokovic is the fully certain challenger to dislodge Alcaraz as world No. 1. Nevertheless whether he can is one other topic.
Alcaraz will occupy the possibility to impress facets at the Canadian Commence – the build he misplaced within the second round final yr – and the Cincinnati Commence – the build he misplaced within the quarter-finals final yr – but may perhaps perhaps well be the defending champion at the US Commence so has 2,000 facets in opposition to his name.
Peaceful, with 3,000 facets on provide to Djokovic all the draw in which by draw of the Cincinnati Commence and US Commence, there is hundreds of opportunity for him to rob his ranking.
There is also the possibility for Djokovic to real the No. 1 seed at the US Commence.
Daniil Medvedev is the modern world No. 3 but is 2,705 facets at the relieve of Alcaraz.
With that deficit and 250 facets soon shedding from his Los Cabos procure final yr, plus 360 to defend at the Cincinnati Commence from making the semis final yr, it looks no longer most likely that Medvedev will most likely be in contention to to find to world No. 1, no longer no longer as much as no longer sooner than the US Commence.
Sabalenka sizzling on Swiatek’s heels
It gave the look of Swiatek’s ride as world No. 1 used to be going to realize relieve to an terminate at Wimbledon.
Had Aryna Sabalenka made the final she would occupy received to the top of the WTA rankings for the first time, but she used to be beaten in three gadgets by Ons Jabeur within the semis.
The chance is soundless interior touching distance, though.
That can perhaps perhaps well shortly be eroded if Sabalenka goes deep at the upcoming Canadian Commence, the build she used to be beaten within the final 16 in 2022.
Sabalenka acknowledged after Wimbledon that her focal point used to be on securing the yr-terminate No. 1 ranking – and denied the possibility of getting to No. 1 used to be on her mind in her defeat to Jabeur.
“I wouldn’t negate that I was engrossing about that. For me, it’s extra about how you impress the yr than for the period of the yr – you’re first, second, you staunch glide relieve and forth.
“For me, it’s extra about finishing the yr. I’ll care for pushing myself and perform the whole lot I will be able to to impress this yr as world No. 1.”
Following the Canadian Commence, Sabalenka would occupy to non-public the final of the Cincinnati Commence to impress facets as she reached the semis final yr.
That is also the case at the US Commence, the build she misplaced to Swiatek within the semi-finals in 2022.
Swiatek misplaced within the final 16 of the Canadian Commence and Cincinnati Commence a yr within the past so has room for enchancment and a possibility to develop her lead as world No. 1.
World No. 3 Elena Rybakina is almost 4,000 facets at the relieve of Swiatek so world No. 1 is out of the question for her for the time being.
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