Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz: How the battle for World No. 1 will pan out in the build-up to French Open 2023

Carlos Alcaraz toppled Novak Djokovic to regain the ATP world No. 1 ranking by winning 2023 Indian Wells on Sunday. However, the battle between the two players for the top spot in the rankings is only getting started, with the next two months expected to witness a neck-to-neck competition.

Alcaraz, who has 7,420 points, earned a 260-point lead over Djokovic (7,160) in the rankings. With the absent Djokovic not defending any points at the Miami Open starting this week, Alcaraz needs to repeat his Indian Wells heroics and defend his Miami Open title if he is to retain the No. 1 spot by the end of the Miami Open.

Even if he is unable to do so, and 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic returns to the top spot after Miami, there is still a lot at stake during the claycourt season, beginning with Monte Carlo. Both Djokovic and Alcaraz will defend only 10 points each at the Monte Carlo Masters, courtesy of their respective second-round exits last season. The Spaniard will then defend 500 points as the Barcelona Open defending champion, while the Serbian great will defend 170 points that same week from his run to the 2022 Belgrade Open final.

The tour then moves to the Madrid Masters, another Masters 1000 tournament, where Alcaraz will once again defend his title. Alcaraz won his second Masters 1000 title in Madrid last year, where he beat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (defending 360 points) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, en route to the title.

Despite the post-Monte Carlo run being a lot more challenging for Alcaraz in terms of points to defend, he will have no points to defend at the Italian Open, while Djokovic will defend 1000 points from last year's title-run.

The duo will then defend 360 points each at the French Open, having bowed out of the quarterfinals last year. Alcaraz lost to Alexander Zverev, while Djokovic lost to Nadal at the 2022 French Open.

While Alcaraz will defend a total of 1,870 points throughout the claycourt season, Djokovic will defend 1,880 total points during the same period, which sets up the prospect of a thrilling battle over the next two months.

---

"If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best" - Carlos Alcaraz on facing Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at the 2022 Madrid Open.

After beating Daniil Medvedev to win the Indian Wells title, Carlos Alcaraz was already looking forward to his next clash with Novak Djokovic on tour. The two players have faced each other only once before, when Alcaraz won their 2022 Madrid Masters quarter-final 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5). With more Alcaraz vs Djokovic battles expected sooner rather than later, the Spaniard expressed excitement for the same.

In his bid to be the best, Alcaraz believes it is imperative for him to beat the best.

"Novak is one of the best players in the world. That's obvious. You know, I will say that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best," Carlos Alcaraz said in a press conference after the Indian Wells final.

"I really wanted to play against Novak again. We miss him on tour, and hopefully to have him back very, very soon. But yeah, of course it could be amazing to play against him again."

Carlos Alcaraz will be the top seed at the Miami Open as well, ahead of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, and Medvedev, and will begin his campaign there later this week. The Spaniard also became just the second teenager ever to win at least three ATP Masters 1000 titles by winning Indian Wells.