Novak Djokovic defends ATP throne from Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic will embrace his 410th week as world no. 1 subsequent week, diligently defending the ATP throne from his closest rival, Carlos Alcaraz. Novak dropped 2000 ATP factors on the Stay rating checklist in the beginning of the Australian Open, permitting Carlos to maneuver nearer after not taking part in in Melbourne a yr in the past resulting from an damage.

Djokovic reached his eleventh Australian Open semi-final after beating Taylor Fritz, sustaining the stress on Alcaraz. The Spaniard needed to go one spherical additional than the Serb to begin one other reign as world no. 1. Nevertheless, that won’t occur following his Australian Open quarter-final loss to Alexander Zverev in 4 units.

Alcaraz’s maintain on the top-2 rating spot is additional imperiled, with Daniil Medvedev poised to ascend and turn into Djokovic’s closest rival if he lifts the trophy on Sunday. Novak maintains a considerable 600 ATP factors benefit over Carlos, trying to prolong the hole to 1100 with the semi-final win over Jannik Sinner.

A profitable protection of his Australian Open crown would see Djokovic establishing a commanding 1800-point lead over Alcaraz. It might be a substantial margin, notably given Novak’s mild factors to defend within the subsequent three months.

In contrast to him, Carlos should work onerous to repeat what he did in 2023 and keep in contact with a 24-time Main champion forward of Roland Garros. Djokovic began his nineteenth Australian Open marketing campaign bothered with a minor virus, taking part in removed from his greatest within the opening two rounds.

The veteran took down the younger Croat Dino Prizmic after over 4 hours within the first encounter and toppled Alexei Popyrin within the second, securing a spot within the final 32. Novak felt higher because the occasion progressed, serving properly towards Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Adriano Mannarino and beating each rivals in straight units.

Thus, Djokovic superior into the quarter-final and battled towards Taylor Fritz.

Novak Djokovic will stay world no. 1 after the Australian Open.

They pushed one another to the bounds at Rod Laver Enviornment in the course of the day session within the opening two units, splitting them after two hours and 23 minutes.

Novak earned 15 break factors, spraying them and conserving his rival in competition. The Serb may have made a unsuitable begin, going through two set factors on serve at 5-6 within the opener and defending them earlier than clinching a tie break. Taylor scored an early break within the second set and denied seven break factors, wrapping up the set 6-4 and enhancing his possibilities.

Nevertheless, Novak regained his power and composure by the beginning of the third set, securing an early break and stealing the rival’s serve three extra instances in the remainder of the duel to cross a difficult impediment and set a blockbuster conflict with Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz returned to Melbourne after two years and performed at a excessive stage en path to the quarter-final.

The Spaniard overpowered Lorenzo Sonego within the second spherical and defeated Junchang Shang and Miomir Kecmanovic to ebook a spot within the final eight.

Carlos met Alexander Zverev, searching for a semi-final spot and extra possibilities to cross Novak and regain the ATP throne. Nevertheless, the Spaniard struggled loads, trailing 6-1, 6-3, 5-2 after a horrible efficiency towards a rock-solid rival.

Zverev served for the victory in recreation eight and skilled the primary break, conserving his rival alive and permitting him to achieve a tie break. Feeling a lot better than 25 minutes in the past, Alcaraz fired from all cylinders and clinched the breaker 7-2, lowering the deficit and enhancing his possibilities.

They traded early breaks within the fourth set and served properly for 4-4. Alexander clinched a vital break in recreation 9, transferring in entrance and sealing the take care of a effective maintain in recreation ten, transferring into his second Australian Open semi-final and sending Carlos packing.