Alcaraz eyes top spot at star-studded China Open

Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz is expected to come out firing on all cylinders as he chases the world No 1 spot at the ATP 500 China Open, which begins on Friday.

Alcaraz saw Novak Djokovic leapfrog him in the rankings after the Serbian's dominant display at the US Open earned him his third Grand Slam title of the year. Alcaraz got the better of Djokovic en route to Wimbledon glory and the Spaniard can land another counter punch in their budding rivalry by triumphing at the National Tennis Center in Beijing.

"Believe it or not, Djokovic can still end up as No 2 if Alcaraz shines in China, and if he does very well at the end of the year by winning the ATP Finals," Lars Graff, deputy director of the China Open's command center, said on Monday in Beijing.