When Paris Masters began earlier this week, Rafael Nadal stood an opportunity to dethrone Carlos Alcaraz from the ATP No.1 spot on the rankings chart. Nevertheless, the 22-time Grand Slam champion suffered a shock defeat to Tommy Paul in his opener at Bercy, which subsequently assured Alcaraz the year-end no.1 crown.
Following his win in US Open in September, Alcaraz had ascended to the highest spot in ATP rankings, turning into the youngest ever participant to take action. At first of his marketing campaign in Paris for the yr’s remaining Masters 1000 title, Alcaraz was introduced with a particular trophy for his achievement in New York.
“In fact it is an amazing feeling, you realize, to as an instance in slightly half to really feel one of the best participant on this planet (smiling),” the tennis star stated with satisfaction on recieving the award. “On this, it is a quantity. For me, it is only a quantity. It is only a rating. Clearly it does not imply that you just’re gonna win each match, each match. You realize, each gamers can beat you. I see like that, you realize, proper now. I simply really feel I can lose each match, and that is a very powerful factor. You must play your greatest match in each match or at the least you must attempt to play one of the best degree in each match. That is what I see in that second proper now.”
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Nevertheless, Alcaraz was not assured the No.1 spot with Nadal respiration down his neck. A superb match in Paris and within the ATP Finals might hand the senior Spaniard the highest spot for the primary time in two years. However Nadal’s battle in Paris Masters continued in 2022 in addition to he suffered a round-two exit to Paul, dropping in three units. The loss subsequently assured that no matter the ends in Paris and in Turin, Alcaraz will finish 2022 because the top-ranked participant.
“Effectively, I am fortunate to finish the yr as No. 1. That is all I can say. I imply, that is virtually all the time you’ll be able to say, as you stated, however, I imply, it has been an amazing yr for me,” he stated.
“However I am gonna finish the yr just like the earlier ones. You realize, after I end the final tournaments, I will have holidays, after which actually focus to have a very good preseason. I wish to concentrate on the beginning subsequent season as nice as I can, beginning in Australia with all the main focus, you realize, on the Australian Open. I imply, it is gonna be a standard finish of yr for me.”