/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/04/30/3959576-80386228-2560-1440.jpg "What does Jannik Sinner need to overtake Novak Djokovic as world No. 1 at French Open? How bad is his injury? – Eurosport")
By When the 2024 French Open starts there will be a new ATP world No. 1 – in the live rankings at least.
With Novak Djokovic’s 2,000 points dropping off from being defending champion, Jannik Sinner will start the Grand Slam as the provisional new No. 1.
So what exactly does Sinner need to do to claim the No. 1 ranking? And how could Djokovic still hold onto it? We run through all the permutations…
Rome loss dents Djokovic’s position
With Sinner and Alcaraz both missing the Italian Open due to injury, Djokovic had the chance to extend his lead at the top of the rankings.
Djokovic, who has spent a record 425 weeks as world No. 1, entered the ATP Masters event with 180 points to defend from making the quarter-finals last year, so could have gained points by reaching the semi-finals or final.
When the Italian Open finishes, Djokovic will be on 9,860 rankings points, with Sinner on 8,770 and Alcaraz on 7,300.
By the time the French Open starts, Djokovic will be dropping 2,000 points as defending champion, which will take him down to 7,860 points. Sinner is only dropping 45 points in Paris after losing in the second round last year, so he will start the tournament with an 865-point lead over Djokovic in the live rankings.
Alcaraz will be on 6,580 points as he has semi-final points to defend from a year ago.
| LIVE RANKINGS BEFORE FRENCH OPEN | |
| Player | Ranking points |
| Jannik Sinner | 8,725 |
| Novak Djokovic | 7,860 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 6,580 |
What does Sinner need to become No. 1?
For Djokovic to stay as world No. 1 after the French Open he will need to at least reach the final.
If he loses before the final then Sinner will become world No. 1, even if he does not play.
If Djokovic is runner-up at the French Open then Sinner will need to have at least made the semi-finals to ensure he takes over as No. 1. If Djokovic wins the title then Sinner will need to have made the final.
Sinner is, though, uncertain to be fit for the French Open.
‘A tough one to swallow’ – Sinner on withdrawing from Italian Open
“If it doesn’t get 100% cured, I’ll stop a little longer. Taking care of the body is more important than everything else.”
The French Open starts on Sunday, May 26, with every day live on Eurosport and discovery+.
Can Alcaraz become No. 1?
Alcaraz will not be able to leapfrog Sinner and Djokovic to become world No. 1 at the French Open.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will start the tournament on 6,580 points in the live rankings.
Even if he wins the title he will only make it to 8,580 points, which will not be enough to overhaul Sinner.
World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev could have a chance of getting to No. 1 at the French Open depending how his Italian Open title defence goes.
Medvedev lost in the first round of the French Open last year so only has 10 points to defend.
What happened to Djokovic at the Italian Open?
Djokovic is set to finish May without a trophy for the first time since 2018.
“Training was different,” Djokovic said. “I was going for a kind of easy training yesterday. I didn’t feel anything, but I also didn’t feel the same. Today under high stress, it was quite bad – not in terms of pain, but in terms of this balance. Just no coordination. Completely different player from what it was two nights ago. Could be. I don’t know. I have to do medical checkups and see what’s going on.”
On his chances for the French Open, he said: “Everything needs to be better in order for me to have at least a chance to win it.”
