Tennis-Alcaraz surrenders top ranking but looks to keep U.S. Open title

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 25, 2023, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during a press conference ahead of the 2023 the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. REUTERS/Mike Segar

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz has already surrendered the number one world ranking and will be in no mood to give up his U.S. Open title as well when the Spaniard begins the defence of his Flushing Meadows crown on Tuesday.

The season's final Grand Slam began on Monday with a change at the top after Novak Djokovic demolished Frenchman Alexandre Muller to ease into the second round - a result that meant the Serb will replace Alcaraz as world number one when the rankings are updated on Sept. 11.