With world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz announcing his withdrawal from the Australian Open on Saturday morning, several top-ranked players’ title hopes have received a massive boost.
As a result of Alcaraz’s removal, nine-time champion Novak Djokovic will advance from the major’s fifth seed to fourth.
Fortunately for Djokovic, the jump into the top-four will ensure he won’t face another top-seeded player until at least the semi finals – strengthening his title run.
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The shift will also help Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas as Djokovic will not feature in their quarter.
In the shuffle, defending champion Nadal will become the Slam’s new top seed while world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas could score a top-two seeding following the conclusion of the United Cup.
Tsitsipas is scheduled to play Matteo Berrettini on Saturday as part of Greece’s semi final tie with Italy.
A victory over the Italian would cause Tsitsipas to leapfrog world No. 3 Ruud when the revised ATP rankings are released ahead of the AO draw announcement.
American Taylor Fritz will also become the eighth seed, growing his chances of progressing to the quarter finals in line with the front runners.
Ensuing the outcome of the AO, Ruud, Tsitsipas and Djokovic all have a chance to replace Alcaraz as the men’s world No. 1.
Alcaraz had been restricted by an abdominal concern since early November but cited a right leg injury as his reason for missing the Australian summer.
“When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time it’s the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I’d worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won’t be able to play (Kooyong) or the Australian Open.”
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