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The Sunshine Double – Indian Wells and Miami Open – was Novak Djokovic’s alternative to pile up factors and consolidate his place because the world No. 1 heading into the clay season, having not been a part of the 2 Masters 1000 occasions since 2019 and therefore had no factors to defend. Nevertheless, a shock third-round exit in California, adopted by a choice to withdraw from Miami Open, leaves the Serb in a precarious spot within the battle for conserving the top-ranking place earlier than the beginning of the clay season, the place he’ll defend the French Open crown.
Djokovic was surprised by fortunate loser Luca Nardi, who grew up idolising the 24-time Grand Slam winner, within the third spherical final week on the Indian Wells, and therefore bagged solely 50 factors.
Whereas the weird begin to the 12 months for Djokovic, who normally begins with an Australian Open title, left consultants speculating his future within the sport, the Serb revealed that he would need to finish his trophyless begin to 2024 in Miami. However just a few days later, he withdrew from the match saying he must stability his “personal {and professional} schedule”.
The place does Novak Djokovic’s Miami Open withdrawal go away him in battle for world No. 1?
The 36-year-old shall be assured of the highest rating within the ATP chart after the Masters 1000 in Miami ends on March 31. This is able to suggest that he would take his tally of time spent as world No. 1 to 420 weeks.
Nevertheless, with Carlos Alcaraz claiming his first title because the Wimbledon final 12 months with the Indian Wells trophy haul, the Spaniard stands simply 920 factors behind Djokovic (9725 factors). Alcaraz will defending 640 factors in Miami subsequent week, having reached the semis final 12 months, and if he manages to script a Sunshine double on the finish of this month, he’ll lower the hole to only 280 factors as he would take his tally to 9445 factors.
This is able to subsequently suggest that with the beginning of the clay season in Monte Carlo, the world No. 1 spot shall be up for grabs. Each Alcaraz and Djokovic missed the match final 12 months and, therefore, won’t be defending any factors within the first massive occasion of the European clay swing in April.
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