What Novak Djokovic Needs To Do To Clinch Year-End No. 1 Ranking

| by Nurein Ahmed

Novak Djokovic won the Paris Masters for a record-extending seventh time at the weekend and continued his dominance of the World No. 1 for a 398th week.

The 36-year-old can take out the champagne from the ice as he is now within spitting distance from the year-end No. 1 trophy. Djokovic can seal this year's race at the ATP Finals in Turin and end Carlos Alcaraz's hopes. But how?

What Novak Djokovic Needs To Do To Clinch Year-End No. 1 Ranking

After beating Grigor Dimitrov in the final in Paris-Bercy, Djokovic extended accumulated 1,000 points for the week. His current points tally stands at 9,945. Carlos Alcaraz has done a commendable job forcing the race into the final tournament of the season.

Considering that Djokovic has won three of the four Grand Slams, which account for the bulk of his points total this season, we cannot overstate Alcaraz's effort. But a costly early defeat at the Paris Masters to Roman Safiullin has pretty much handed the No. 1 ranking on a silver platter for the Serbian.

Djokovic Levels Alcaraz As Title Leader In 2023 After Paris Masters Win
Djokovic Levels Alcaraz As Title Leader In 2023 After Paris Masters Win

Going to the last Masters 1000 tournament, only 500 points separated them. But Alcaraz only gained 10 points (for a first-round bye). And with Djokovic winning the title in Paris, the gap has now grown into a seemingly insurmountable 1,490 points.

Djokovic now needs to win just one round-robin match at the ATP Finals to lock his spot at the top. One round-robin win in Turin is equivalent to 200 points. That would extend the gap to 1,690. Even if Alcaraz won the ATP Finals as an undefeated champion, he can only garner a maximum of 1,500 points.

Alcaraz has the faintest of hopes to finish as year-end No. 1. He'll need Djokovic to lose all his round-robin matches, and must himself win the title without losing a match for him to overturn that astronomical lead so late in the season.

Novak Djokovic Continues World No. 1 Dominance In Latest ATP Rankings
Novak Djokovic Continues World No. 1 Dominance In Latest ATP Rankings

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