Novak Djokovic may experience a significant decline in the ATP Rankings as he has chosen to withdraw from the 2024 Cincinnati Open. The Serbian tennis player has had a limited number of matches this year and has not achieved much success. However, these factors seem unimportant to him at the moment, as they have been overshadowed by one of the greatest accomplishments of his tennis career.
In the early part of 2024, Djokovic faced numerous challenges. He was defeated in the semi-finals of the Australian Open by Jannik Sinner and suffered a surprising loss in his second match at Indian Wells against Luca Nardi. Additionally, Casper Ruud outperformed him in the semi-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
The series of shocking defeats continued as Alejandro Tabilo defeated the 24-time major winner in Rome, and Djokovic also lost to Tomas Machac in Geneva despite winning the second set 6-0. To make matters worse, he had to withdraw from Roland Garros due to an injury that required surgery.
However, Djokovic made a remarkable comeback and reached the final of the Wimbledon Championships, marking his first final appearance of the season. Unfortunately, Carlos Alcaraz completely dominated him at SW19, winning the match 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4). Nevertheless, Djokovic’s current focus may not be affected by these results.
His ultimate victory came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he triumphed over none other than Carlos Alcaraz in an epic final. This win completed his collection of achievements and sparked joyous celebrations for his country.
For the 37-year-old, this victory served as a significant physical and emotional release. As a result, Djokovic has decided to take several weeks off before returning to the ATP Tour and participating in the 2024 US Open, unless he changes his mind.
Consequently, he has withdrawn from the 2024 Canadian Open, which may not come as a surprise considering he did not participate in the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Canada last year. However, Djokovic has now also decided to withdraw from the Cincinnati Open, where he emerged as the champion last year after another thrilling final against Alcaraz, winning 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4). This victory paved the way for his subsequent triumph at the US Open, securing his 24th Grand Slam title.
As a result of his withdrawal, Djokovic will lose all the points he earned from last year’s Cincinnati tournament. Winning the ATP Masters 1000 event granted him 1,000 points, all of which will be deducted in a few weeks.
This will cause the current World No. 2 to see a decrease in his points total from 8,460 to 7,460. He will only have a slight 110-point advantage over his closest competitor for the No. 2 position, Alcaraz. However, it should be noted that Alcaraz is expected to participate in Cincinnati, and if he reaches the quarter-finals, he will surpass Djokovic in the rankings.
Additionally, Alexander Zverev will also be given an opportunity to achieve this feat. Presently, he is guaranteed a minimum of 6,585 points following the conclusion of the Cincinnati Open. Unlike Djokovic and Alcaraz, Zverev will also participate in the Canadian Open, providing him with additional opportunities to accumulate points and potentially surpass the esteemed Serbian player. It is worth noting that Djokovic’s ranking could potentially decline to the fourth position in the world after the conclusion of the 2024 Cincinnati Open.
Photo from Djokovic Instagram
