By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 19, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz is back to World No.1 after winning the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, and Daniil Medvedev says there should be no asterisk next to his name due to the fact that Novak Djokovic has been able to play several tournaments over the last year and a half, due to his decision to remain unvaccinated.
Here is how Medvedev explained his reasoning, when he was asked if he felt that the 19-year-old Spaniard was a “true No.1.”
“100 percent,” Medvedev said, before adding: “it’s for sure unfortunate Novak cannot play all the tournaments, and I’m sure everyone would love to see him play, because it’s just good to see Novak play. He plays very good.
“But it is what it is… Rafa is injured for some time. We also can say, ‘Well, if Rafa would not be injured he would be No. 1. Well, we cannot know, because he’s injured.
“Same about Novak. For sure if he would be able to play last year and this year all the tournaments, there is a possibility that the rankings would be different. But there shouldn’t be any “buts.”
“Carlos is deservedly World No. 1. He won more points than everybody else in the last 52 weeks, and that’s how rankings work.”
Djokovic, when asked, has said the same thing. The last few years have been strange rankings-wise, due to Covid, and Djokovic’s unvaccinated status after that. But it’s not a reason to discredit Alcaraz, who now owns three Masters 1000 titles and a US Open title before the age of 19.
The Spaniard begins his 21st week at No.1 this week, but he’ll have to work hard to stay on top.
He must win Miami to remain on top in the April 3 rankings release – otherwise Djokovic will return to the top for the eighth time.
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