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Sinner v Alcaraz: Jannik Sinner makes injury confession as he edges towards Carlos Alcaraz clash in Cincinnati

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Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz Cincinnati Open

Jannik Sinner may be heading into the US Open as the world No 1, but he also has plenty of questions hovering over him.

After losing against Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals of last week’s Montreal Masters event, fresh concerns over Sinner’s hip injury were raised.

The Italian was struggling with a hip injury during the European clay court season in April and May and then suffered with tonsilitis as he lost in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon against Daniil Medvedev.

Indian Wells. Sinner-Alcaraz, la semifinale che tutti attendono

JUST IN: Iga Swiatek makes ‘scary’ admission as she highlights concerning tennis issue

He was then forced to pull out of the Olympics due to illness, so all eyes were on the Italian as he played his first match at the Cincinnati Open against American Alex Michelsen.

While Sinner sealed a 6-4, 7-5 win, this was not a convincing performance for a player who extended his record on hard courts in 2024 to a hugely impressive 25-2.

“It was a tough match. He played already some matches but for me, it was the first match here, so I tried to feel the conditions a bit more,” said Sinner.

“I’m very happy to be in the next round. For me this is a place where I used to struggle a lot in the past years, so let’s see what I can do this time.

“I’m trying to stay in a positive mindset, positive moment, and I think that today also brought me the win.”

When asked if he was physically fit, he offered up a less than convincing reply as he said: “For sure not 100 per cent yet, but I’m trying to get used to these conditions.”

Sinner saved three break points in the opening set and five in the second as he was pushed by Michelsen, with the sparkling form Sinner showed as he won the Miami Open on US hard courts back in March not in evidence in this latest outing.

With French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz also in the draw in Cincinnati, Sinner will be hoping his body stands up to the demands in the hot conditions in Ohio as he will need to play better than he did against Michelsen as this was not a display that suggested the world No 1 is peaking ahead of the last major of the year.

Meanwhile, Britains’ Jack Draper battled back from the brink of defeat and required a medical time-out before beating Jaume Munar 7-5 3-6 7-6 (5) in the first round in Cincinnati.

The British No 1 struggled alarmingly the latter stages, but dug deep after treatment on his abdomen in the deciding set and will play Greece’s world number 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round.

Draper recovered from 4-2 down in the opening set to twice break Munar, but the Spaniard, ranked 89, levelled it up by taking the second.

Both players broke serve early in the decider and after Draper saved a break point to lead 6-5, the 22-year-old left-hander called for the trainer.

Munar comfortably held serve to take it to a tie-break, but Draper, who became British number one earlier this summer after winning his first career ATP Tour title in Stuttgart, defied waning energy levels to take it 7-5.

Tsitsipas beat Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3, while Denmark’s Holger Rune and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime also progressed.

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Iga Swiatek closes in on Serena Williams record after opening Cincinnati win

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Iga Swiatek Serena Williams Cincinnati Open

Iga Swiatek could be in line to break a Serena Williams record after surviving a second-set wobble to reach round three at the Cincinnati Open.

After receiving a round one bye, Swiatek saw off French qualifier Varvara Gracheva 6-0, 6-7(8), 6-2 to keep her quest for a first title at the tournament alive.

However, the scoreline, while showing it was a battle at stages, does not tell the full story outright.

French Open 2022: Iga Swiatek takes down Serena Williams record - Yahoo Sport

READ: Iga Swiatek makes ‘scary’ admission as she highlights concerning tennis issue

The world No 1 led 6-0, 5-2 at one stage and held five match points in the second set, though was pegged back and forced into a decider.

But the five-time major winner held her ground and bounced back in the decider to set up a round three clash versus 15th seed Marta Kostyuk.

“Honestly, I knew I had the game to win it because I had five match points,” she said on court afterwards.

“It was my fault that I didn’t close it – but it happens.

“I didn’t want to have any regrets. I looked forward and tried to take a lesson from what happened and start playing differently, in the same way I played the beginning of the match.”

Victory for Swiatek continues her fine form at WTA 1000 events in 2024, with four titles at that level to her name coming into Cincinnati.

The Pole was triumphant at Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome, and other strong results include a semi-final run in Dubai.

She now has 28 wins at that level this season, eclipsing her previous best total of 27 from 2023.

And that has put her in striking distance of Williams’ record for most WTA 1000 wins in an individual calendar year.

The American picked up a staggering 36 WTA 1000 match wins in 2013, in one of the most impressive seasons of her legendary career.

However, Swiatek now has a genuine chance of beating that tally.

The world No 1 has an opportunity to potentially pick up another four wins in Cincinnati – hypothetically winning the title in the process – and then has two more WTA 1000 events to play in 2024.

Swiatek will go into the China Open as the defending champion in September, before the return of the Wuhan Open the following week.

Meanwhile, the 23-year-old also extended her current record for the highest percentage of sets won 6-0 at WTA 1000 tournaments.

Swiatek has now picked up a bagel in 11.2% of sets she has played at WTA 1000s, well ahead of the likes of Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Garbine Muguruza in the all-time standings.

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Iga Swiatek makes ‘scary’ admission as she highlights concerning tennis issue

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Iga Swiatek Paris Olympics

Iga Swiatek has described the tennis calendar as “probably the toughest one in sports” and declared it is “scary” that the schedule is “getting more crazy every year.”

The world No 1 also discussed the need to reset after a “pretty stressful” Paris Olympics experience and outlined her plan to treat the Cincinnati Open as a “practice tournament.”

Swiatek was the strong favourite to win the women’s singles gold medal at the 2024 Games, with the tennis event staged on the clay at Stade Roland Garros — where she has won four French Open titles.

Paris 2024 favorite Iga Swiatek loses in Olympic women's tennis semifinal

JUST IN: Jannik Sinner makes ‘struggle’ confession ahead of Cincinnati Open

The Polish star suffered heartbreak in the semi-finals as she fell to a 2-6, 5-7 loss to world No 7 and eventual gold medallist Zheng Qinwen.

The 23-year-old bounced back from the disappointment admirably to defeat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1 in the bronze medal match.

Swiatek will play her first tournament since the Olympics at the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati after she missed the Canadian Open in Toronto.

In her pre-tournament press conference, Swiatek brought attention to the relentless tennis schedule and expressed concern it is getting more challenging each season.

“Our calendar is crazy, probably the toughest one in sports,” said the Pole.

“There are sports that are really tough because, physically, you might get beat up. But most sports have four months off, sometimes even six. Our schedule is crazy, and it’s getting more crazy every year, which is scary. You just have to train wisely.”

The five-time Grand Slam champion also reflected on her Olympics campaign and highlighted the importance of resetting.

“It was pretty stressful and it wasn’t easy,” Swiatek explained.

“But I’m happy that I could leave Paris with a medal and with a lot of knowledge about myself. The most important thing for me was to learn from this experience.

“I was proud of myself and I was happy that I could deal with all this pressure and still get a medal. It wasn’t like a normal tournament, for sure.

“I literally felt after the Olympics that I need to kind of reset and also just focus on getting my technique back together and just grinding on court.

“Here is the perfect place to do it. It feels a little bit less crazy, but on the other hand, even before the tournament, there are many people and a lot of fans. So you still feel that it’s an important tournament anyway.”

Swiatek then looked ahead to her campaign in Cincinnati, where she is looking to win a first title.

“I know that the first tournament on hard court is not going to be easy,” she added.

“So I’m going to try to treat it as a practice tournament, but not in a way that I don’t care – more in a way that I want to implement all the stuff that I practised on. I think it’s the best approach for me now. We’re taking it easy, doing everything step by step.

“For sure, it’s not going to be perfect from the beginning but I had a couple days to really get used to the surface, so I’m trying to do the best job possible every day and entering the court next day knowing I can do something better.”

Swiatek will face Ajla Tomljanovic or Varvara Gracheva in her opening match in Cincinnati. She reached the semi-finals in 2023, which is her best result at the WTA 1000 tournament to date.

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Jannik Sinner makes ‘struggle’ confession ahead of Cincinnati Open

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Jannik Sinner Cincinnati Open

Jannik Sinner issues injury update ahead of Cincinnati Open as he makes ‘struggle’ confession

Jannik Sinner has allayed fears that his recent injury woes will keep him out of the Cincinnati Open, but he does acknowledge that the event is one where he usually “struggles”.

The world No 1 missed the Italian Open in May due to a hip injury he sustained at the Madrid Open and two months later he was forced to skip the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis.

Jannik Sinner on hip scare: 'I'm not afraid' | ATP Tour | Tennis

READ: Carlos Alcaraz sends Jannik Sinner warning as he reveals big goal ahead of Cincinnati Masters

After making his comeback at the Canadian Open last week, Sinner was once again troubled by his hip during quarter-final defeat to Andrey Rublev.

It raised doubts over his participation at this week’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Mason as well as the US Open, but the Italian has given a positive update.

“I feel quite good. Obviously I made nearly one week without practising before and then after playing for two, three days in a row, a bit more than usual, [that] could [have had] a potential impact to the hip,” he said.

“But I’m not afraid. I feel good with the hip, and I’m just looking forward to go back on court here.”

Missing out on Paris 2024 was a big disappointment, but the 22-year-old knows you have to accept the good with the bad where sport is concerned.

“This year I felt like because I was playing well, also in Paris, in Roland Garros, and knowing that Olympics are there that I can play good on that court or quite well, trying to give myself a chance for medals,” Sinner said.

“But sometimes you have to accept it. Obviously it goes also in your mind after now that you missed this because you wanted to prepare it. But it’s all part of the sport, and I also have to be happy with what I have, not always looking on the negatives.

“I believe that my season is going in a very, very positive way, and we just keep building on that.”

The Cincinnati Open is the last big event before the US Open and Sinner doesn’t have the best of records at the Lindner Family Tennis Centre as he hasn’t made it past the third round.

Last year he lost in the second round against qualifier Dusan Lajovic and he acknowledges that it is not his best event.

“Here usually I struggle a little bit to play because of the conditions, but I’m looking forward to see my reaction this year, because it’s a great test for me,” the top seed, who faces either Alex Michelsen or Tallon Griekspoor in the second round, said.

“I believe that this tournament can give you a lot of confidence then for the US Open, which is the last Grand Slam we have throughout the year. So in my mind, this is a very important tournament.

“We go day by day. Today is my first practice day. Let’s see how it feels… I have a couple of days to prepare and hopefully show some good tennis.”

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Unlike Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek Refuses to Succumb to Online Hate

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Coco Gauff Iga Swiatek

Unlike Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek Refuses to Succumb to Online Hate as She Reveals the Perfect Way to Deal With Naysayers

“Unfortunately, many people don’t realize what the life of an athlete is like.” Dealing with social media can be a nuisance. Especially when fans offer their unsolicited opinions to simply pour negativity. Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek are two such players who are often victims of such online harassment. While the tennis stars have earned respect within the sporting community with their laudable achievements, an occasion loss in their momentum turns the subject into a flip-sided affair. But, how do they deal with such comments? Surprisingly, in contrast to Gauff, Swiatek resorts to a very different approach.

On Sunday, August 11, Swiatek sat down for an exclusive interview with WP SportoweFakty. Following her Paris Olympics campaign, wherein she fetched a bronze medal, the Polish star was asked how she deals with a love-hate relationship with fan comments. The World No. 1 explained that it’s a two-way street. While some fans offer her support even when she’s at her lowest, some spread negativity even when she has garnered glory. The latest of which came after her disheartening semifinal loss at the hands of China’s Qinwen Zheng at Olympic Games.

Swiatek Gauff to meet in Australian Open quarters - Tennis Majors

JUST IN: Carlos Alcaraz sends Jannik Sinner warning as he reveals big goal ahead of Cincinnati Masters

As an attempt to cut herself off from outside world during tournaments, Swiatek typically limits her online presence during tournaments. Her online activity is primarily confined to posting after matches. She consciously avoids reading comments during these intense periods. “I don’t feel like answering or explaining, because I realize that a lot of people support me and I wouldn’t be able to explain everything. I simply accept that such things are a part of my life.”

The Pole acknowledges a common misconception about the life of an athlete. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional distance from such opinions, as they often lack understanding of the athlete’s experience. Unfortunately, she notes a tendency for people to make hasty judgments. However, once a tournament concludes, she often catches up on online discussions to stay informed about public opinion. “Very often, I receive very positive messages. This was the case right after my defeat in the semi-final in Paris, when messages of support from fans and friends, and even from other athletes, helped me a lot.” 

Exactly one year ago, the World No. 1 opened up about the toxic online environment after her hard-fought victory over Zheng at the Western & Southern Open. She expressed frustration over the relentless hate messages directed at both herself and her coaching team, despite a successful comeback win. Swiatek questioned the unrealistic expectations placed on athletes, highlighting the stark contrast between the negativity online and the positive outcome of the match.

 

For those unaware, last year, American talent Gauff took significant measures to deal with online harassment. Notably, the World No. 2 went on a social media blocking spree after witnessing a string of negative comments after she was overpowered by the Pole at the 2023 WTA Finals. Later, she posted a candid admission outlining her reasoning behind such extreme measures saying,

“I only block people who are negative, not my fans. When you deal with the daily harassment I deal with every single day. Death threats, racism, body shaming. etc. It is exhausting. So I try my best to spare myself.”

However, Gauff is in no mood to let such comments affect her ambitions. After a heartbreaking conclusion to her Olympics campaign, the American, once again, aims to participate in 2028 LA Olympics! This time for a “full effect”!

One would think Gauff’s premature end to her Olympic debut would quash her gold medal ambitions. However, the American has stepped in to tell everyone otherwise. The 20-year-old plans to sign up for all three categories at the 2028 edition of the Games, despite failing to secure a medal while participating in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles contests in Paris this year.

She said, “I didn’t really experience a full effect so like kind of lost earlier in singles so at that point I think I was I didn’t even double up yet so I would still do all three again if that’s a possibility in 28, I mean it’s four years from now.”

Following an early exit at the Olympics, the reigning US Open champion hasn’t stumbled upon noteworthy success on the Tour either. An out-of-form Gauff was flushed out of the Canadian Open before she could make her mark. Now, she hopes to reverse her fortune by prepping for the Cincinnati Open and with it, aims for a successful title defense at the Flushing Meadows Slam.

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Carlos Alcaraz sends Jannik Sinner warning as he reveals big goal ahead of Cincinnati Masters

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Carlos Alcaraz Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz has sent a message to Jannik Sinner by asserting that ending the 2024 season as the ATP world No 1 is one of his “main goals.”

The Spaniard revealed that being No 1 is a target whenever he does not occupy the position and highlighted the importance of the Race to the ATP Finals to him.

Alcaraz is in Cincinnati to play his first tournament since leaving the 2024 Paris Olympics with a silver medal, following his loss to Novak Djokovic in an enthralling gold medal contest.

Carlos Alcaraz sends Jannik Sinner warning as he reveals big goal ahead of Cincinnati Masters

READ: How does Sinner’s loss affect the battle for World No. 1? Alcaraz could potentially snatch the No. 1

The 21-year-old is currently ranked third in the ATP Rankings on 7,950 points behind world No 1 Sinner (8,770 points) and world No 2 Novak Djokovic (8,460 points).

Alcaraz was a runner-up at the Cincinnati Masters in 2023, meaning he will need to reach the final or win the Masters 1000 event this year to improve his points tally.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is second in the ATP Race to Turin Rankings on 5,960 points, 450 points behind Sinner, who is top with 6,410 points. The Race Rankings count only points from the current year and determine the eight qualifiers for the season-ending ATP Finals.

Speaking ahead of the Cincinnati Masters, Alcaraz outlined his ambition to chase down Sinner at the top of the ATP Rankings and in the Race.

“Obviously being No 1 is a goal every time that I am [behind] and the race is an important ranking for me,” said the world No 3.

“At the end of the year, if you end the race No 1, in the rankings [it is] quite similar, so you’re going to end the No 1. So I’m really focused on that.

“I’m focused on going to every tournament, thinking about playing great tennis, doing a good result just to get better in the race.

“This year, ending the year as No 1 is one of my main goals right now. So I’m looking forward to doing it and let’s see.

“I’m fighting for being No 1 in the race, that’s something that I really want to to do as soon as possible, if I could do it in the future.

“This one is a really important tournament, really good tournament for me. So I’m going to try to play good tennis, try to play same level as I was playing, and let’s see.”

Alcaraz will face either Gael Monfils or Alexei Popyrin in his opening match in Cincinnati, where he is the No 2 seed. The Spaniard could face off with Sinner in the final at the hard-court event.

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Novak Djokovic is about to discover if his tennis career is coming to an end

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Novak Djokovic Olympic

Novak Djokovic has admitted he is writing the final few chapters of his career and his emotions over the next few weeks could be crucial to deciding when he retires.

After achieving his last great goal in tennis by winning the Olympic gold medal with a win against Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris 2024 final earlier this month, what comes next is a question Djokovic will be asking as he prepares for the final months of this year.

After struggling for motivation and slipping to some surprise defeats in the first half of this year, Djokovic bounced back into form as he performed heroically to come through some tight matches at the French Open.

Olympics 2024: Novak Djokovic defeats Carlos Alcaraz to win gold in men's singles final at Roland Garros | Tennis News | Sky Sports

JUST IN: How does Sinner’s loss affect the battle for World No. 1? Alcaraz could potentially snatch the No. 1

His run at Roland Garros was ended by a knee injury that required him to undergo surgery on June 5, but he made a remarkably quick recovery to play at Wimbledon and reach the final, where he lost against Alcaraz.

Djokovic then bounced back to serve up some passionate performances and claim the Olympic gold medal for Serbia allowed him to complete his record of claiming every major title in tennis.

“I thought in 2012, carrying the flag of my country in the opening ceremony was the best feeling an athlete could have – until today,” the 24-time Grand Slam winner said.

“This supersedes everything that I imagined and hoped I could experience and feel. The fact I won the bronze in my first Olympic Games and ever since then failed to win a medal despite playing in three semi-finals, I couldn’t overcome that obstacle.

“Now, at age 37, I beat a 21-year-old that is probably the best player in the world right now. When I take everything into consideration, this is probably the biggest sporting success I’ve had in my career.

Djokovic’s declaration that he now has everything he could ever need from his tennis career inspired questions over how long the greatest player of them all would continue to play at the highest level.

He has openly admitted that playing in ATP Masters series events is no longer driving his ambition and with the Olympic dream no longer on his horizon, what more can Djokovic aim for?

This is a player with more Grand Slam titles than any male in tennis history, who has been world No 1 for more than two years longer than anyone else, so what is left for Djokovic now?

He could extend his lead in the Grand Slam title race and target an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer’s all-time record next summer, but that achievement would not define his legacy.

Djokovic has won his battle with Rafael Nadal and Federer to be etched into the record books as the greatest tennis player of all-time and with the Olympic dream complete, he admits there are doubts over what comes next.

“It’s complete,” he said of his career. “I completed all the achievements with this gold medal, but I love this sport. I don’t just play only to win the tournament.

“I play because I love the competition, training my body, perfecting my game. This sport has given me so much in my life and I try to give back to the sport with dedication and the sacrifice I put on the court when no one else is watching.

“I do it as hard as any young player out there, so these successes are no accident.

“I don’t know about the future. I have worked very hard, sacrificed a lot to get to this moment. Now it’s about happiness, joy and celebration.”

Djokovic will need to get back onto hard courts imminently as he prepares to defend his US Open title, but he will not play in any warm-up events after pulling out of the Toronto and Cincinnati Masters events.

The Serbian has proved time and again that he cannot be written off in any tournament, but Alcaraz and world No 1 Jannik Sinner appear to have been a step ahead of him over the course of 2024 and for the first time in many years, Djokovic may not arrive in New York as US Open favourites.

Beating Alcaraz in a best-of-three-set match that meant more to him than any other in recent years is an achievement he will cherish forever, but can Djokovic still win a Grand Slam against the young guns snapping at his heels?

The great man himself will get some answers to that dilemma when he steps on court at the US Open for the first time because if his motivation wanes for a second on the biggest stages in tennis, even the great Djokovic will be swept aside by his youthful rivals.

If Djokovic steps back on the court and does not feel the drive and passion to continue to strive for perfection, he won’t wait for too long to accept he sport he as loved and completed has given him all he needs.

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How does Sinner’s loss affect the battle for World No. 1? Alcaraz could potentially snatch the No. 1

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Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner was the heavy favorite to win the Canadian Open title, especially after the absences of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

However, the Italian fell in the quarterfinals to Andrey Rublev, failing to defend the title he won in 2023.

The Italian lost a significant number of points, narrowing the gap with Alcaraz and Djokovic, putting his hold on the top ranking at risk in the coming weeks.
For most of the year, Sinner had comfortably held the No. 1 spot, as none of his rivals could achieve results that brought them close enough to the Italian. However, with the start of the hardcourt swing, we may see changes at the top of the rankings.
Jannik Sinner's Canadian Open exit leaves his top tennis rank vulnerable

READ: “You can’t put him on the same level”: Former world No 1 believes Novak Djokovic falls short of being the GOAT athlete

Sinner is set to lose 800 of the 1,000 points he earned at last year’s Canadian Open, bringing his total down to 8,770 points in the next ranking update. He will have just over a 300-point lead over Djokovic (8,460), with less than 1,000 points separating him from Alcaraz.
Starting Monday, the Cincinnati Open will take place without the defending champion Novak Djokovic, who will lose 1,000 points when the tournament concludes. As for Alcaraz, he finished as runner-up in 2023, so the only way for him to gain points is by winning the title. However, Alcaraz needs to reach the quarterfinals to secure the World No. 2 ranking, though he cannot yet aim for No. 1, as Sinner is not defending points in Cincinnati, and there is no mathematical way for Alcaraz to overtake him yet.
Cincinnati could be a crucial event for Sinner if he hopes to remain No. 1. Without defending points, it’s a golden opportunity to widen the gap with his pursuers and limit the risk of what could happen afterward at Flushing Meadows. There, Djokovic is defending the title (2,000 points), while Alcaraz is defending the semifinals (720 points). Sinner, on the other hand, only reached the fourth round (180 points).
Given this, Djokovic currently has no chance of reclaiming the No. 1 spot, even if he defends his title at the US Open. Alcaraz, however, appears more threatening, having won the last two Grand Slams and looking like the player in the best form in recent months. He also knows what it takes to win the title at Flushing Meadows, having done so back in 2021.
Depending on their results in Cincinnati and the US Open, Alcaraz could potentially snatch the No. 1 spot from Sinner once the fourth Grand Slam of the year concludes. Sinner is guaranteed 8,590 points at the end of the US Open, plus any additional points he may earn in upcoming tournaments, while Alcaraz could reach a maximum of 9,640 points if he wins both the US Open and Cincinnati.
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“You can’t put him on the same level”: Former world No 1 believes Novak Djokovic falls short of being the GOAT athlete

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Novak Djokovic Olympic Games

Yevgeny Kafelnikov has lauded Novak Djokovic as the greatest tennis player of all time but believes that he cannot lay claim to being sports greatest ever athlete.

Kafelnikov puts basketball superstar Michael Jordan, who also played baseball at the pro level, on a pedestal as the greatest athlete of all time.

He says that Jordan’s charismatic draw sets him aside as someone that you just needed to see.

Impressed With Michael Jordan's 30,000,000 Viewership, Novak Djokovic Looks to Emulate Last Dance's Success: "Been Shooting For Years" - The SportsRush

JUST IN: Despite ATP Ranking, Carlos Alcaraz stays as world No 1 in rankings endorsed by Novak Djokovic

“There’s no doubt that Novak is the greatest tennis player of all time, that’s for sure. You can’t put him on the same level as Michael Jordan… I don’t think so, because I grew up idolising the greatest athlete of all time, which was Michael Jordan,” Kafelnikov wrote in a social media post.

“All I wanted to do was watch him play live. To me, he’s still number one, but Novak is definitely in the top three greatest athletes of all time, without a doubt – all the accomplishments, the records he’s broken, the titles he’s won.”

Djokovic found an answer for the new generation at last in Paris, blowing away many with his efforts in overcoming Carlos Alcaraz in the gold medal match.

The Serbian had identified the need to find a way to best the likes of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner after he was bested in straight sets by the Spaniard at Wimbledon.

“Well, the Olympic Games and US Open are the two big goals for the rest of the year for me really,” Djokovic said as he took in his loss at SW19.

“I’m hoping I can be at my best on those two tournaments, yeah. That’s all I can say right now.

“I mean, being able to reach the finals of Wimbledon, of course, it’s a great confidence boost. But I also feel like in a matchup today against best player right now in the world for sure, I mean, other than Jannik, and both of them are the best this year by far, I feel like I’m not at that level.

“In order to really have a chance to I guess beat these guys in Grand Slam latter stages or Olympics, I’m going to have to play much better than I did today and feel much better than I did today.

“I’m going to work on it. It’s not something I haven’t experienced before ever in my life. I’ve had so many different experiences throughout my career. In the face of adversity, normally I rise and I learn and get stronger.

“That’s what I’m going to do.”

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Despite ATP Ranking, Carlos Alcaraz stays as world No 1 in rankings endorsed by Novak Djokovic

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Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic

Jannik Sinner may be sitting at the top of the official ATP Rankings, but Carlos Alcaraz is top of a rankings list that may offer a more accurate reflection of current form.

Alcaraz’s stunning summer of success saw him collect a first French Open title and retain his Wimbledon crown with a crushing win against Novak Djokovic in the final at the All England Club in July.

Now Alcaraz has been confirmed as the world No 1 in the UTR Rankings that use a different method to calculate the current best players in tennis.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic To Face No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz In ATP Finals

READ: Novak Djokovic achieves another milestone, joins Federer and Nadal in exclusive group

The UTR rankings are calculated using a different method to the traditional ATP list, with current form and the ranking of your opponent taken into account when the final analysis is made.

The method for calculating the UTR ratings differs greatly from the rolling ATP list, which ranks players based on the points they collect over 52 weeks.

Victories against higher-ranked played are worth more in the UTR list than the official ATP or WTA ranking, meaning they offer up a more accurate reflection of the current form at the top of the game.

The UTR rankings are based on the current form from the last few weeks and months rather than reflecting results that occurred up to a year ago, with the system created to promote fair and competitive play across the tennis world.

All players, regardless of age, gender, geography, or skill level, are rated on the same scale between 1.00 and 16.50 based on actual match results.

The UTR rankings have been endorsed by 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who has suggested they may offer a more accurate reflection of the current form in the game.

Italy’s Jannik Sinner ousted Djokovic from the top of the UTR rankings after his Australian Open win in January and he backed that up by leaping to the top of the ATP Rankings a few weeks later.

Yet Alcaraz is now at the top of the UTR list after his French Open and Wimbledon wins, with Djokovic down in third place behind Sinner.

Australia’s Alex De Minaur is in the top 5 of the UTR rankings after his impressive form in 2024 and Alexander Zverev is at No 6.

The American duo of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are also in the top ten, with the impressive form shown by a returning Matteo Berrettini reflected in the UTR list as he is listed as the 12th best player in the world on current form.

Russia’s Andrey Rublev is still in the top ten of the ATP rankings despite a drop in form in recent months, but he is down at a lowly ranking of No 26 in the UTR list.

Despite his stunning recent form, Alcaraz will struggle to oust Sinner from the top of the ATP Rankings in the second half of 2024.

Sinner’s last-16 defeat against Alexander Zverev in last year’s US Open means he will have a chance to gain ranking points if he can reach the semi-finals or win the last major of the year.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz lost 180 points by withdrawing from this week’s Montreal Masters and he also has plenty of points to defend next week if he plays in the Cincinnati Masters, where he was a runner-up last year.

Alcaraz will have opportunities to replace Sinner at the top of the ATP Rankings during the indoor swing on the ATP Tour, but he admits Sinner and Djokovic are still a step ahead of him in those conditions.

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