Carlos Alcaraz reacts to losing No 1 spot to Novak Djokovic again despite Serb’s USA ban

And the teenage sensation was on course to achieve that feat without dropping a set when he edged out tenth seed Sinner in a nervy first set tie-breaker. But the inspired Sinner, 21, staged a rousing comeback to set up a showdown final against Daniil Medvedev, the Russian who has just been cleared to play at Wimbledon this summer.

Alcaraz has meanwhile relinquished his spot at the summit of the ATP rankings to 22-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic. He needed to defend his title to stay atop, but the defeat at the Hard Rock Stadium means he slips to second in Monday’s updated rankings.

And the Spaniard’s failure to maintain top spot is a bonus for 35-year-old Djokovic, who could only watch the Sunshine Double from afar after he was denied entry into the United States. The US still requires international visitors to be vaccinated and unvaccinated Djokovic had his application for special permission to compete blocked.

But Alcaraz is not seeing his momentum-halting defeat as a missed opportunity as Djokovic returned to No 1. “For me it is like I lost the semi-final,” he said. “I don’t think about that I lost the No. 1, I lost the Sunshine Double. I don’t think about it.

Of course it’s a shame, you know, but I had an opportunity to get the Sunshine Double, but, I mean, I think I am gonna have more years to try to get it. But all I can think about is to improve my level to beat Jannik. Yeah, for me I just lost a semi-final of a tournament.”