Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud or Rafael Nadal will be ATP No. 1 next week, with Medvedev to drop from top spot

The Break: Looking ahead to the US Open quarterfinals

The ATP No. 1 ranking will change hands next week, but it's yet to be decided whether a familiar name or a new face will be at the top of the game.

Current No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will fall from the top spot following his fourth-round defeat to Nick Kyrgios at the US Open, where he was the defending champion. There are three players left who could step into the position, depending on what happens for the remainder of the tournament.

Despite his fourth-round defeat at the US Open, Rafael Nadal could return to No. 1, becoming the second-oldest player to hold the ranking following Roger Federer. But he will need some help from Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, who are both also contenders for the top spot.

The 36-year-old from Spain will get back to No. 1 if neither reaches the final of the US Open, according to the ATP Tour.

Otherwise, there will be a new No. 1—either 19-year-old Alcaraz or 23-year-old Ruud can get there by reaching the final. If both reach the final, the winner will be No. 1 in the rankings.

Alcaraz would become the youngest-ever No. 1 on the ATP Tour if he wins the US Open, while Ruud would be the first player from Norway to hold the top spot.

Medvedev, who reached No. 1 at Acapulco this season, will fall to at least No. 3 in the rankings.

Another player who will be dropping is No. 2 Alexander Zverev. The German reached the semifinals of the 2021 US Open but is sidelined with injury and will fall to at least No. 4 in the rankings.

Nadal is currently No. 3 and Alcaraz No. 4 in the rankings; French Open finalist Ruud is No. 7.