Tennis news – Stefanos Tsitsipas wants No 1, Andy Murray backs Daniil Medvedev – but who will displace Novak Djokovic?

February 2, 2020. The final time that Novak Djokovic was not on the prime of the ATP rankings.

Djokovic has held the highest place for the final 80 weeks and seen his file of total time spent as world No 1 stretch to 334 weeks, shifting properly away from Roger Federer (310 weeks) and Pete Sampras (286 weeks).

However might Djokovic’s time on the summit quickly be coming to an finish? And who will displace him? Djokovic presently holds a wholesome lead of practically 2,000 factors over second-placed Daniil Medvedev, with Stefanos Tsitsipas an additional 1,800 factors again in third. Rafael Nadal is fourth within the rankings, round 4,400 factors behind Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev is shut behind in fifth.

With a Masters occasion being performed on the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati this week and the US Open developing on the finish of the month there are many rating factors on supply. A Masters occasion provides 1,000 factors to the winner and 600 factors to the runner-up whereas a Grand Slam winner will get 2,000 factors and the runner-up 1,200 factors.

ATP Singles Rankings earlier than Cincinnati

• 1. Novak Djokovic – 12,113 factors
• 2. Daniil Medvedev – 10,120 factors
• 3. Stefanos Tsitsipas – 8,350 factors
• 4. Rafael Nadal – 7,815 factors
• 5. Alexander Zverev – 7,263 factors

Tsitsipas just lately moved as much as No 3 on the earth after recording a tour-leading 45 victories this season and, forward of taking part in in Cincinnati, made clear his ambitions to climb even increased.

“No 3 is a quantity that could be very vital and it holds an enormous significance,” he stated. “You do not get many thrilling moments like this in your profession. I noticed it come out, and I felt overwhelmed by it. It was a fantastic feeling. It provides some worth to your self for the efforts that you’ve got put in to get there.

“It sort of pushes me a lot to maintain that, to wish to go the additional mile within the subsequent tournaments, and that was my preliminary objective from the start of the 12 months, to make it into the highest three. Now the second section of that objective is to stay there. The rankings are there for a motive. They signify one thing necessary. I believe that the very subsequent step can be the No 1 spot, which I hope I can get to someday.”

Tsitsipas’ type dipped after making the French Open last as he was crushed within the first spherical at Wimbledon after which misplaced early in Hamburg and on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Nonetheless, he confirmed encouraging indicators final week as he made the semi-finals in Toronto, shedding to Reilly Opelka in three units.

“I wish to get to the stage of a match the place I can get plenty of factors,” he added. “I’m aiming for the large factors. I do know that many of the huge factors are semi-finals onwards. That is the place you get probably the most quantity of factors, and I wish to be aiming for that.”

If Tsitsipas is to get to world No 1 quickly he is not going to solely want to keep up robust type for the remainder of the 12 months however will even want some assist from Djokovic and Medvedev to shut the hole.

The extra doubtless challenger proper now seems to be Medvedev, particularly if he has a great run on the Western & Southern Open and US Open. Nonetheless, whereas he could make up floor on Djokovic this week, issues might go the opposite means on the US Open, the place Medvedev is defending 1,200 factors after making the ultimate in 2019 and Djokovic is defending simply 180. The world No 1 was docked all his rating factors from the 2020 US Open after being disqualified within the fourth spherical for hitting the ball in the direction of a line decide. Meaning he has the possibility so as to add plenty of factors to his rating if he has a deep run in New York this 12 months.

If Djokovic comes out of the ultimate Grand Slam of the 12 months with a wholesome benefit it could be powerful to stop him turning into the primary particular person to safe the year-end No 1 rating for a seventh time. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless factors to play for – and doubtlessly questions over how far more Djokovic will play in 2021 if he wins or loses in New York.

There are two Masters occasions remaining this 12 months in Paris and Indian Wells, with the latter rescheduled from earlier this 12 months. The Shanghai Masters has been cancelled however there are additionally the ATP Finals in Turin, which carry 1,500 factors for the winner. Medvedev most of all wants a robust end to the season as he’s defending factors from successful Shanghai in 2019, and Paris and the ATP Finals final 12 months.

If Medvedev did get to No 1 he can be the primary participant outdoors the Large Three to succeed in the summit since Andy Murray in 2017. And Murray, who’s now ranked outdoors the highest 100 after surgical procedure, thinks the Russian would be the one to finally displace Djokovic.

“Of the present ones Medvedev can be the man I might count on to get there first,” he informed the ATP after successful his opening match on the Western & Southern Open. “I believe possibly he’ll must be somewhat bit extra constant on the clay to get there, however I believe he’s received a great likelihood.”

Medvedev, who misplaced to Djokovic in straight units within the last of the Australian Open earlier this 12 months, is conscious of the issue of the problem.

“To turn into the No 1 with Djokovic it’s not simple as a result of he’s successful virtually all of the matches and all of the Grand Slams. So you want to beat him within the last. Possibly if I might have crushed him (in Australian Open), I might be a lot nearer. However he beat me, in order that’s the fact.

“I simply wish to attempt to play my greatest tennis. You realize, when you win two Grand Slams in a 12 months and two Masters, you’re going to be No 1. That’s what you want to attempt to purpose for, and so after all I wish to be No 1, however, yeah, I must win huge tournaments and large titles for this. That’s what I’m attempting to do.”

Each Medvedev and Tsitsipas could also be helped of their quest to turn into world No 1 by Djokovic reducing down his schedule and prioritising Grand Slams. Nonetheless, how lengthy will or not it’s earlier than both can take their place on the prime of the rankings?