Carlos Alcaraz will become the new ATP number 1 tennis player after the Rome Masters, following a victorious debut. He will be the number 1 until the end of Roland Garros, and takes the throne for the third time in his career.
The young Spaniard defeated his compatriot, Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-1 in his debut in Italy. In spite of losing the first two games of the match, he was able to turn things around and advance to the Round of 32.
Carlos Alcaraz to become new world number 1, dethroning Djokovic
The 20-year-old has become one of the most clinical players on any surface. And his latest win only proved his ability, getting the same result as he did in Umag last season.
Novak Djokovic himself advanced to the fourth round, defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in Rome. Although the Serb slipped up in the second set, he was able to turn things around in the third to make it through.
However, he criticised the surface of the court in Rome – “What is interesting would be to understand how much tennis they’re playing on the court actually before the tournament starts,” Djokovic told reporters.
“If you don’t use the court, and you have a clay court… the court breaks. You have many holes. You have an uneven surface, really bad bounces, a lot of clay. In Rome, it has been happening for quite a few years.
“Now there’s really not much you can do. It’s just kind of covering the holes here and there… Hopefully as the days pass and the tournament progresses, the court will get better.”
