New ATP ranking after Australian Open: Here's how long Novak Djokovic is safe at the top spot

Photo: AP/Tanjug; Printskrin: atptour.com

Novak Djokovic has started the 410th week as the world's best tennis player, since the new ATP ranking was officially released this Monday in which the Serbian tennis player is again at the top.

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It was known immediately after Alcaraz was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open that Novak was guaranteed the first place after the tournament, even though he lost 1,200 points due to getting eliminated in the semifinals, since he was defending last year's title and 2,000 points.

Nevertheless, despite the lost points, Novak is safe in the lead, and this will certainly remain to be the case for at least a few more weeks, and most likely until the French Open, because he hardy has any points to defend in this period, unlike his competitors who had an excellent period in that part of the season last year.

In theory, only Carlos Alcaraz could reach Novak before the French Open. Currently, Novak has 600 more points, and the Spaniard could achieve that if he plays in Buenos Aires, Rio and Acapulco, because he is defending 500 points, and could earn 1,250 if he plays and wins all three tournaments.

Alcaraz played in Buenos Aires and Rio last year, when he won the title in Argentina and reached the final in Brazil, and then withdrew from Acapulco due to injury. If all this coincided again regarding Alcaraz, then on March 2 he would overtake Djokovic, but if Novak does not play any tournament before that (last year he played in Dubai).

But, even if this almost impossible theory becomes reality, Alcaraz will not stay in the top spot for too long, because Novak is not defending any points from Indian Wells and Miami, where he will play this year and could earn as many as 2,000.

So, it is almost certain that Novak will remain ATP's best-ranked male player until the French Open, which would mean at least 428 weeks as the best in the world. Already this Monday, compared to Roger Federer, who follows him on that eternal list, he is 100 weeks ahead.

When it comes to the Top 10, we saw four changes. The first six places remained unchanged, while Holger Rune is now 7th, Hubert Hurkacz is in 8th, Taylor Fritz is 9th, while Stefanos Tsitsipas dropped three places and is now in 10th.

Photo: AP/Tanjug; Printskrin: atptour.com

(Telegraf.rs)