By
Carlos Alcaraz has a shot to return to the top of the ATP rankings, but India needs to beat Wales, otherwise the opportunity will slip away.
As the champion in Miami, Alcaraz can’t score any points in the fortnight, and after that Novak Djokovic has a shot to get back into the game and take the lead or come back.
Alcaraz was in good shape, but now he needs to go beyond the form player on the ATP Tour by Daniil Medvedev.
Medvedev, a former world No. 1 himself, is boosting his rankings following his slumps at the US Open and Melbourne.
Medvedev already has three titles in his bag on a 19-match winning streak and a fourth on Sunday.
While he could further close the gap on World No. 4 Casper Rudd, Medvedev can do no better than climb to No. 5 regardless of whether he wins the final.
Despite losing his last eight matches to Alcaraz, Felix Auger-Aliassime is set to jump from tenth to sixth, leapfrogging Andre Rublev, Holger Rohn and Rafael Nadal.
Nadal’s exit from the top ten now sees him in 13th place, with Indian Wells threatening to crack the top bracket after defeating semi-finalists Yannick Sinner and Francis Tiafon.
Taylor Fritz dropped five places to tenth after failing to secure his maiden Masters title in Indian Wells.
Fritz’s fall puts him in the range of both Tiafoe and Tommy Paul in the US No. 1 race.
Holger Ruhn is back in the ATP top ten as Hubert Hurcak moves up to ninth in the rankings.
If Alcaraz is able to grab the top spot at Indian Wells, he will have a tough task ahead of him through the Miami Open.
Alcaraz needs to defend his Miami Open title to avoid dropping to second place in the rankings with Djokovic to defend any points in the Sunshine Doubles.
Rudd and world No. 3 Stephen Tsitsipas will not threaten the top spot this week or in Miami.
Cameron Norrie remains the British No.1 at world No.12, while both Andy Murray rose three places to 52nd, while Jack Draper jumped 13 places to world No.42.
Read more: Carlos Alcaraz sets up Indian Wells showdown with Daniil Medvedev
