Indian Wells, March 21 (BNA): Carlos Alcaraz is back at number one in the ATP rankings, replacing Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in 18 years.
Alcaraz moved up one place, swapping places with Djokovic, a day after he ended Daniil Medvedev’s 19-match winning streak by defeating him in straight sets in the final in Indian Wells, California.
Alcaraz, the 19-year-old from Spain who first shot to No. 1 by winning the US Open in September, hasn’t dropped a set in the grueling tournament, according to the Associated Press.
Djokovic has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any man or woman in tennis history. He has not played in Indian Wells because he is not permitted to enter the United States as a foreign national who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
He will also miss the Miami Open, which starts this week; Alcaraz is the reigning champion there.
Nadal has been sidelined since January with a thigh muscle injury and dropped to 13th on Monday, ending his stay in the top 10 that began in April 2005.
It is the longest such race in the ATP; Jimmy Connors has been next on the list for about 15 years now.
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