Djokovic receives two advantages from Alcaraz’s Aus Open withdrawal

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Novak Djokovic has received a boost after Carlos Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open after picking up a leg injury. The Serb is now one of three players who can leave Australia as the new No 1 in the world, with his fate in his own hands, while he will also avoid a meeting with long-time rival Rafael Nadal before the semi-final stage of the first Grand Slam of the season.

Alcaraz announced his shock withdrawal from the Australian Open on Friday night after picking up a fresh injury in training. It comes after his 2022 season was cut short when he tore part of his ab muscle at the Paris Masters, and the 19-year-old admitted it was “another blow” as he announced the news on social media.

“When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time it’s the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg. I’d worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won’t be able to play the Care A2+ Kooyong or the Australian Open,” the reigning US Open champion wrote.

While the news comes as a shock for Alcaraz and the tournament, who will now be without the current world No 1 and most recent Grand Slam winner, it means that Djokovic now has a clear path to return to the top of the rankings and gives him a better seeding at the upcoming Australian Open.

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Currently ranked at No 5 in the world, Djokovic has the chance to reach the No 1 spot along with Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who have never been at the top of the rankings before. And the nine-time champion at Melbourne Park has the clearest path to the top, as he must win this week’s Adelaide International and the Australian Open itself to become No 1 at the end of the month.

The 35-year-old has also been bumped up to a top four seed spot and will be the fourth seed at the Australian Open, while reigning champion and world No 2 Rafael Nadal looks set to be the top seed. It means that the multi-Grand Slam champions won’t be able to meet until at least the semi-final, when they could have been set for a quarter-final clash if Djokovic was the fifth seed.

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After being deported on the eve of the Australian Open last year, Djokovic is defending no points and can gain 2,000 if he wins a record 10th title in Melbourne. And the Serb is defending just 100 points on his ranking between now and the Madrid Masters at the end of April, giving him plenty of leeway to return to the top even if it doesn’t happen Down Under.

Ruud could reach No 1 in the world with a run to his third Grand Slam final, while Tsitsipas would need to win his maiden Grand Slam final to reach the top spot. Despite being ranked at No 2 in the world, Nadal has no chance at moving one place further as the defending champion, as he can only retain his 2,000 ranking points from winning last year.

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