Novak Djokovic purchased the ticket and now’s taking the journey.
The 22-time grand slam champion on Monday had his No. 1 rating ripped from him by Carlos Alcaraz after the Spanish teenager placed on a masterclass in his Indian Wells closing thrashing of Daniil Medvedev.
The ATP 1000 victory is sufficient for Alcarez to take again the crown — and he has executed so with Djokovic watching helplessly on the opposite facet of the globe.
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Djokovic, barred from coming into the United States as a result of he hasn’t been vaccinated towards Covid-19, sat out Indian Wells and can miss the Miami Open beginning this week.
The solely good news for he Serb is that Alcaraz must efficiently defend his Miami title over the course of the following two weeks to maintain the throne he now occupies.
Right now, nevertheless, Djokovic is paying the heavy value for his highly-publicised refusal to get the jab.
Leading tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg mentioned Djokovic was all the time going to pay a excessive value — on prime of being prevented from competing on the 2022 Australian Open and 2022 US Open.
The American reporter posted on Twitter: “It was 100 per cent Djokovic’s decision not to make himself able to play in America for the last year’s (Indian Wells tournament) by staying unvaccinated.
“Djokovic said in 2022 that said missing tournaments was “the price I’m willing to pay” for staying unvaccinated. That invoice has come due this month.”
Rothenberg additionally lamented the distinctive circumstances which have resulted in Djokovic and Alcaraz preventing for the No. 1 rating regardless of not even competing in the identical tournaments.
“This thing where Alcaraz and Djokovic trade the #1 ranking back and forth while not at the same tournaments is pretty anticlimactic, gotta say,” he wrote.
“Hopefully they face off plenty in Europe.”
They will lastly be competing on the identical courts when the Monte Carlo Masters begins from April 9.
Djokovic famously mentioned final yr he understood the implications of skipping grand slam tournaments at a time when his battle for historic grand slam supremacy with Rafael Nadal is burning scorching.
“Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay,” he advised the BBC.
“I was never against vaccination, but I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.
“I understand the consequences of my decision. I am unable to travel to most tournaments at the moment.”
As a results of his stance, Djokovic has been unable to doubtlessly compete in eight main tennis tournaments, one thing Tennis 365 not too long ago estimated to be value as much as $11 million in prize cash.
Alcaraz’s efficiency on Monday in wiping the ground with Medvedev has left tennis followers salivating on the eventual showdown between Djokovic and Alcaraz.
The 19-year-old demolished Medvedev 6-3 6-2 in simply 71 minutes.
The Russian was red-hot coming into the ultimate — his fourth ATP Tour closing in simply 5 weeks — however seemed out of his depth towards the Spaniard
The tennis world was left in awe of Alcaraz.
“An absolute master class thus far from Carlos Alcaraz,” Patrick McEnroe wrote on Twitter.
New York Times tennis reporter Christopher Clarey wrote Alcaraz’s courtroom craft was in an “elite club” after watching him toy with Medvedev in a single marathon rally.
American tennis commentator and coach Brad Gilbert wrote he was “so impressed” with Alcaraz’s skill to dominate in each side of the sport.
“His game is off the charts,” he mentioned.
After additionally claiming the Miami Open in 2022, Alcaraz turns into the youngest participant to win the Sunshine Double.
According to tennis journalist Jose Morgado, Alcaraz can also be the second youngest winner at Indian Wells, behind solely Boris Becker.
Djokovic, in the meantime, had utilized for a waiver from the US authorities to enter the nation, notably with restrictions set to finish in May.
According to stories, his request centred on a declaration he has contracted the virus on two earlier events, submitting for a medical exemption on that foundation.
The solely good news for Djokovic is that he’ll seemingly be free to play the 2023 US Open, starting August 28.
The US’ stance has been panned by pundits and tennis stars, together with US political comic Bill Maher.
Maher mentioned on HBO’s ‘Real Tim with Bill Maher’: “Imminent danger? Of a man playing tennis? Of a man who has had it twice?
“He’s standing alone. A sport where you stand alone in the middle of a stadium, outside, in a country where everyone has already had it. No imminent danger? This country is stuck on stupid, it just is.”
Djokovic’s vaccination standing noticed him deported from Australia shortly earlier than the 2022 Australian Open. After successful Wimbledon he additionally missed the US Open final yr due to the journey restriction.
He returned to Australia in January, successful the 2023 Australian Open for a record-equalling twenty second Grand Slam singles title.
Source: www.news.com.au
