Cincy sensation Djokovic closing in on return to No. 1

Novak Djokovic’s dramatic Cincinnati final win over Carlos Alcaraz puts the 23-time Grand Slam champion within striking distance of a return to the top ATP ranking as the US Open begins next Monday.

According to calculations, the pressure is all on current top dog Alcaraz to defend his winner’s points from last year, when Djokovic did not play after being banned at the time from the US due to lack of a COVID vaccine 

With the veteran Serb standing a razor-thin 20 ranking points behind Alcaraz, one slip from the Spaniard will be enough to vault Djokovic back to the summit.

Should Djokovic win his opening match next week, Alcaraz will drop no matter how well he does throughout the rest of the Grand Slam fortnight.

Alcaraz has just entered his 34th week atop the rankings and has secured the top New York seeding but remains in serious danger of a tumble.

To maintain the current status quo, calculations suggest that Alcaraz would need to retain his title while Djokovic goes out in the first round.