The withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz from the ATP tournaments in Rio de Janeiro will have consequences on the ATP ranking. In fact, Jannik Sinner could become the new ATP No.2 already at the BNP Paribas Open, the first ATP Masters 1000 of the season which will be played on the Californian hard-courts of Indian Wells.
The Spaniard will not be able to defend the final he won last year at the Rio de Janeiro Open and will lose 300 points this week. On Monday 26 February only 535 points will divide Alcaraz and Sinner.
Considering the results achieved by both last year in California (Alcaraz won the tournament by beating Sinner in the semi-final – ed.) the Italian will find himself ahead in the live ranking when the first ATP Masters 1000 of the season begins.
But there is also Daniil Medvedev. The Russian has the chance to spoil the party for both candidates if he wins both the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai and the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, provided that neither Alcaraz nor Sinner reach the final.
Sinner will start from 7910 points and the Spaniard from 7805. The Italian will therefore only need to obtain the same result as his rival or do better than him to overtake him in the standings. Destiny is therefore in the hands of Sinner, who by triumphing in Indian Wells would guarantee himself second position in the men’s world ranking.
Jannik Sinner© Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Staff Getty Images Sport
Alcaraz’s injury in Rio de Janeiro
Alcaraz’s match at the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro lasted just 18 minutes, most of which was spent waiting for the physiotherapist and taking advantage of the medical time out. During the second point of the match with Thiago Monteiro, the Spaniard attempted to quickly change direction to respond to the Brazilian’s counterattack and his ankle caught on the ground.
A bad sprain that recalled the sad episode that happened to Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros in 2022. The injury, as specified by the person concerned, should however be much less serious than the one that occurred to the German.
Alcaraz allowed himself to be treated by the doctor who bandaged his ankle and he resumed playing for a few moments. The former number 1 in the ATP ranking broke his rival, but in the following game he decided to retire so as not to further complicate the situation and put his next commitments at risk.
“These things happen, especially on clay. They say it’s nothing serious, but I felt bad when I fell. Tomorrow I’ll carry out some tests. I hurt myself in a change of direction and this happens.
I went back to see if I could continue, spoke to the physio and we decided I would continue to see if the ankle would get better. It didn’t happen, so we preferred to be cautious and withdraw as a precaution,” Alcaraz said at a press conference.
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