Novak Djokovic learns how to keep world No 1 ranking after Serbia Open final loss

Novak Djokovic has learned what he must do at the upcoming Madrid and Rome Masters to hold onto his world No 1 ranking after suffering defeat in the Serbia Open final. The Serb now sits just 320 points ahead of Daniil Medvedev and will be hoping to stay at the top ahead of his French Open title defence, where he will also be defending a huge 2,000 ranking points.

Djokovic's ranking is still under threat from Medvedev despite the 26-year-old currently being out of action following hernia surgery. A title win at the Serbia Open would have boosted his lead over the world No 2 but instead the 20-time Major champion lost in three sets to Andrey Rublev.

He still managed to add points to his ranking but will now need to do more across the Masters 1000 event in Madrid and Rome to stay at the top ahead of his French Open title defence, and his first Grand Slam tournament of the season. Having not played Madrid last year, all he needs to do to stay No 1 after the tournament is win one match, but things get more complicated as he heads to Rome where he was the runner-up in 2021.

Medvedev won just one of his three matches at the two Masters tournaments last year, meaning he will lose 100 ranking points while unable to compete, putting him on 7,980 ahead of the French Open. Djokovic will have 600 to defend in Rome, and will be in the clear if he can win one of the two events.

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The world No 1 can also keep a stronghold on his ranking if he reaches semi-finals in both Madrid and Rome, or a final showing at one tournament with a third-round appearance in the other will also help him safely keep hold of the top spot. It would offer Djokovic a welcome boost