How can Djokovic lose the ATP world’s No. 1 spot? Which tennis player can take it from him?
Djokovic’s defeat to Tabilo in Rome means that Sinner will be the virtual leader of the ranking at the French Open when last year’s points are deducted.
Novak Djokovic’s defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in the third round of the Italian Open could also have consequences for Nole regarding the ranking, as he could lose the No. 1 spot after 424 weeks at the top.
Jannik Sinner could overtake Djokovic despite not playing in Rome due to injury. The Italian has many options to be the world’s No. 1 after the French Open after Djokovic’s shocking defeat in Rome.
Djokovic commands the ATP ranking with 9,860 points, while Sinner comes second with 8,770, so he still has a 1,090-point difference with the Italian.
How can Sinner take Djokovic’s No. 1 spot?
However, it will be Sinner the one who will virtually lead the standings heading to the French Open with 8,725 points. Djokovic will get to Paris with 7,860 since the virtual classification deducts the points accumulated by the tennis players last year before each tournament (in the case of Sinner 45 for losing in the second round, and 2,000 in the case of Djokovic for being the tournament’s champion).
All the pressure in the fight for the top spot will be on Novak Djokovic. If the Serb can’t make it to the French Open final, Sinner will automatically leave the French capital as the world’s No.1 no matter what he does in the event. Sinner would also take the top spot if he reaches the semifinals and Djokovic doesn’t win the final.
Djokovic would remain at the top if he wins the French Open and Sinner doesn’t reach the final and if Nole gets to the final and the Italian is eliminated in the quarterfinals or before. If Sinner gets to the final against Djokovic, the Italian would also leave Paris as No.1, either as runner-up, with 10,025 points, or as champion, accumulating 10,725 points, and with his second Grand Slam event title after winning the Australian Open last January.