Carlos Alcaraz has been one of the standout performers on the ATP Tour over the past two years, yet his tenure as world No. 1 has been unexpectedly brief.
When the young Spaniard triumphed at the 2022 US Open, becoming the youngest man to claim the world No. 1 ranking, many anticipated a long reign. However, his first stint lasted only 20 weeks before Novak Djokovic reclaimed the top spot. Although Alcaraz managed to reach the pinnacle three more times, each reign was short-lived, as Djokovic consistently ended his time at the top.
Since first achieving the No. 1 ranking in 2022, Alcaraz has held it for a total of 36 weeks. Despite his consistent performance over the past two seasons, injuries have significantly impacted his ability to maintain the top position. His initial stint as world No. 1 ended due to an injury that prevented him from competing in the 2023 Australian Open.
This year, Alcaraz has missed several tournaments, contributing to his current distance from the top of the ATP Rankings. Currently, Jannik Sinner, his young Italian rival, holds the No. 1 spot and appears poised to retain it for a while.
As the defending champion at the upcoming Wimbledon Championships, Alcaraz cannot add to his points total. An early exit or a strong performance by Alexander Zverev could even drop him to the No. 4 spot in the rankings. Even if he wins Wimbledon, maintaining his status as the reigning champion of two majors would not be enough to reclaim the top ranking or secure a place in the Top 2.
Ironically, Alcaraz could potentially win four Grand Slam titles within two years and three within the last 12 months, yet his cumulative time as world No. 1 would still only amount to 36 weeks.
In comparison, WTA’s Iga Swiatek has spent 108 weeks as the highest-ranked player, despite winning five majors overall and four in the past two years. Swiatek’s success in multiple WTA 1000 events has helped her maintain the top spot, even though her major victories have been predominantly at Roland Garros, with her only other Grand Slam win at the 2022 US Open.
This contrast highlights the challenges of earning ranking points through majors alone. Alcaraz, the youngest player to win majors on all three surfaces, continues to break records, but his struggles to maintain the No. 1 ranking underscore the unpredictable nature of professional tennis.