Carlos Alcaraz returned to the top of the ATP rankings on Monday after his Indian Wells triumph, while Rafael Nadal dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in 18 years.
Spanish teenager Alcaraz cruised past Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final to retake top spot from Novak Djokovic who is not competing in the US hardcourt swing as he cannot enter the country due to not being vaccinated against Covid.
Djokovic had taken top spot in the rankings by winning the Australian Open, with Alcaraz missing the year’s first Grand Slam due to abdominal and hamstring injuries.
The Spaniard returned to the ATP Tour in February at Buenos Aires where won his first title since last year’s US Open and made the Rio final before withdrawing from Acapulco with a strained hamstring.
“I began the season well but struggled a lot with injuries,” Alcaraz, who defends his Miami Open title this week, told Tennis Channel. “Two injuries in the legs in about four months, it was tough to stay strong mentally.
“I missed some tournaments I wanted to play, but I worked really hard with my team. I believe in myself and the work I’m doing right now and I’d say that’s the most important thing.
“It means a lot to recover the No 1 ranking. I’m not going to say it was easy, but it was easier because Djokovic was not playing.”
American Taylor Fritz dropped five spots to world number 10 after his title defence ended in the quarterfinals.
Nadal, who has been out injured since a second-round exit at the Australian Open, fell to 13th place.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion had previously been inside the top 10 since April 2005.
ATP TOP 20
- Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 7 420 pts 2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7 160
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 5 770
- Casper Ruud (NOR) 5 560
- Daniil Medvedev 4 330
- Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 3 415
- Andrey Rublev 3 390
- Holger Rune (DEN) 3 325
- Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3 065
- Taylor Fritz (USA) 2 975
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) 2 925
- Cameron Norrie (GBR) 2 815
- Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2 715
- Frances Tiafoe (USA) 2 710 (+2)
- Alexander Zverev (GER) 2 580
- Karen Khachanov 2 505
- Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 2 230
- Alex de Minaur (AUS) 2 085
- Tommy Paul (USA) 2 045
- Borna Coric (CRO) 1 905
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