Big chance! Djokovic has a chance to reclaim his world number one position

The Tennis Masters in Cincinnati is entering its final phase. Among the last four players in the tournament are the two biggest favorites. Their motivation for the last two days of play at the American event is also the fight for the number one position in the ATP rankings. Under what circumstances will Novak Djokovic regain it?

The Masters in Cincinnati has attracted the world’s top players. The well-attended tournament was also the perfect dress rehearsal for the last Grand Slam of the season. Which tennis players were at their best?

Apart from the top-seeded rivals Djokovic and Alcaraz, we must first of all mention their upcoming opponents. They will be Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz.

The opponents of the biggest favourites

German Zverev’s performance in Cincinnati clearly indicates that he is back in form. The same form he used to torment Nadal at Roland Garros more than a year ago. He has been doing well at the American Masters for a long time, becoming champion here two years ago.

Zverev’s journey through the tournament this year is impressive. The German also beat another of the big favourites, Russia’s Medvedev. He got past him in sets 6:4, 5:7, 6:4. The second set against the world number three was the only set Zverev has lost in Cincinnati so far.

Hurkacz of Poland had a slow start at the American tournament, but got into a great rhythm. He even swept Tsitsipas in the eighth round and is looking for a rematch with Alcaraz. A week ago in Toronto, the Spaniard beat him after a great fight.

Djokovic vs. Alcaraz

Even more intriguing than the rematch with Hurkacz, of course, is the vision of another duel between the Spaniard and Djokovic. Alcaraz was more or less one of a number of tennis players a year ago, now he presents himself in Cincinnati as a star of the brightest calibre and a world number one. But it is that very title that the 20-year-old tennis player may lose.

After Wimbledon, where he fell just short of Alcaraz in a five-set battle, Djokovic gave himself a month-long tournament sabbatical and set to work with gusto in Cincinnati. He defeated Davidovich Fokina, Monfils and Fritz with great ease and he needs to fulfil two conditions to become world number one.

The Serbian tennis player will become number one in the ATP rankings if Alcaraz is not enough for Hurkacz in the semi-finals and he himself goes for the tournament triumph. But most fans of the sport might appreciate more their possible direct duel in the final of this tennis event.

Finally,

Djokovic’s return to the official throne is real. His performances so far in Cincinnati have been great and he will be a big favourite against Zverev as well.

Alcaraz is coming through the tournament much less sovereignly than his great rival. Not surprisingly, even though the Spaniard is a huge phenomenon in the tennis world, he cannot be expected to dominate on all surfaces. The tennis player himself is aware of his reserves.

Hurkacz will do everything he can to beat the Spaniard this time. In Toronto he proved that he has it in him and here he is playing even better. Djokovic’s assault on the top of the ATP rankings can be successful.

But the main news is something else. It is great that after a long period of domination by the trio of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, there is a young player on the scene who is capable of competing with Djokovic. Alcaraz’s rivalry with Djokovic is the main story on the ATP tour this year. And it’s certainly not over.

Source: ATP Cincinnati