Novak Djokovic withdrew from the upcoming 2023 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells and that means Carlos Alcaraz has a chance to become world no. 1 again.
While it's certainly disappointing news for fans of the Serbian star, it's also a massive opportunity for Carlos Alcaraz, who is currently hot on Djokovic's heels in the race for the world no. 1 ranking.
Alcaraz burst onto the scene in a big way in 2022, winning the US Open at just 19 years of age. He followed that up with a solid 2023 campaign, as he reached back-to-back finals, but he was eventually stopped by yet another injury. That setback put him behind Djokovic in the rankings as he wasn't able to compete in Acapulco, but with the Serbian star now sidelined, Alcaraz is poised to make his move.
The first hurdle for Alcaraz will be Indian Wells, where he'll need to perform well to make up for the points he's set to drop from last year's semifinal appearance. If he can win the tournament and add 1000 points, he'll be back on top of the ATP Rankings, a position he's clearly hungry for.
But the real test will come in Miami, where Alcaraz will need to defend his title and a whopping 1000 ranking points. It's no easy feat, but if anyone has the game and the mentality to do it, it's Alcaraz.
So what does it take for the young Spaniard to become world no. 1? He needs to win in Indian Wells. But what does it take for Alcaraz to stay world no. 1 also after the Miami Open, he needs to win both events and complete the Sunshine Double, something Iga Swiatek managed to do last year.
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