Novak Djokovic is poised to seize the men’s world number one ranking from his emerging rival, Carlos Alcaraz, following a dominant victory in his comeback to the US Open.

Hailing from Serbia, Djokovic, who had previously lost to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, exhibited his prowess with an impressive 6-0 6-2 6-3 triumph over France’s Alexandre Muller during Monday night’s session in New York.

At 36 years old, Djokovic encountered restrictions on playing in the United States last year due to his non-vaccination against the Covid-19 virus. However, this year, he has made his triumphant return, fueled by the prospect of securing his 24th major title, which would equal the record set by Australian Margaret Court.

Djokovic wasted no time in asserting his dominance, breezing past the 84th-ranked Muller in a commanding display. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic expressed his excitement, acknowledging the challenges posed by the later start time but emphasizing his enthusiasm to step back onto the court after a hiatus of a few years.

Although he encountered a slight dip in his serve’s efficiency in the second and third sets, Djokovic’s exceptional play remained evident. He embraced the competitive spirit, acknowledging that he had to work harder for points at times, while still commending his overall performance.

Taking to the court at the late local time of 23:00, the three-time US Open champion made it clear that he intended to make a swift impact. In a mere 23-minute opening set, Djokovic conceded just eight points, demonstrating his unwavering focus and determination.

Muller, visibly relieved, managed to notch his first point on the scoreboard at 2-1 in the second set, eliciting a celebratory response. Nevertheless, Djokovic continued to forge ahead, thwarting Muller’s attempts to halt his advance.

As the match progressed, Muller displayed greater resilience in the third set. However, Djokovic’s superior skills eventually shone through, as he secured victory by clinching the final four games, completing the match in an impressive one hour and 34 minutes.

Djokovic, who previously secured victories in the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year, remains steadfast in his pursuit of a fourth title at Flushing Meadows. His upcoming match against Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the second round is anticipated to further solidify his position as he eyes a triumphant return to the world number one ranking at the conclusion of the tournament.

Meanwhile, top seed Alcaraz, aged 20, commenced his quest to defend his US Open title after winning his first major in Djokovic’s absence during the previous year. Alcaraz’s opening match against Germany’s Dominik Koepfer is scheduled for Tuesday, marking the initiation of his title defense.

The dynamic rivalry between Alcaraz and Djokovic has garnered significant attention over the past year. Although their rivalry began to gain traction at the beginning of the season, the absence of both players at key tournaments limited their opportunities to engage in intense on-court battles.

However, recent months have seen this rivalry reach new heights, with three captivating matchups during the French Open semi-finals, Wimbledon’s premier showdown, and the Cincinnati final earlier this month. Fueled by these intense confrontations, Alcaraz and Djokovic have emerged as the leading contenders for the men’s singles title at the US Open.

Given their status as the top two seeds, Alcaraz and Djokovic are slated to meet only in the final stages of the tournament, ensuring a potentially explosive culmination to their rivalry on one of tennis’s grandest stages.