By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday February 23, 2022
Daniil Medvedev continues to shut on Novak Djokovic, and is now three wins from overtaking the Serbian legend for the No.1 rating. If he achieves the feat this week in Acapulco, he’ll turn into the primary participant apart from Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray (aka the Huge 4) to carry the ATP’s No.1 rating since Andy Roddick on Feb 1, 2004.
However the Russian, who breezed previous Spain’s Pablo Andujar (6-1, 6-2) on Wednesday, is aware of he has an extended method to go.
“Nonetheless it’s not completed and it’s removed from being completed,” he stated in his press convention at Acapulco. “In tennis every thing is way till it’s completed. Everyone knows particularly by some loopy matches once you suppose you gained the match but it surely’s not true.”
However sure, it’s going to imply rather a lot [if I do it] and I’m positive, like often in sports activities, there are going to be numerous statistics happening, ‘Since when? Since what? Since how?’ And it’s going to be enjoyable however first I would like to realize it as a result of it’s going to harm much more if we discuss this and I don’t make it, in order that’s my predominant objective – to try to win as many matches as potential within the subsequent three weeks after which see the place did I come?”
Listed here are the No.1 rating eventualities for Medvedev in the mean time:
Medvedev reaches No.1 if…
Medvedev wins the Acapulco title
Medvedev reaches the Acapulco last and Djokovic doesn’t win the Dubai title
Medvedev reaches the Acapulco SF and Djokovic doesn’t attain the Dubai last
Djokovic doesn’t attain the Dubai SF
Medvedev says it doesn’t actually matter to him that it’s Djokovic he’s chasing. He says that to him, it’s extra about attaining a childhood dream, and one which he by no means thought might be potential when younger.
“It doesn’t actually matter if it’s Sampras there, Marat Safin or Novak,” he stated. “It’s a objective that once you dream about when you find yourself younger, you simply need to obtain it.”
Medvedev additionally added that it does really feel particular to be the participant who’s lastly breaking apart the Huge 4 hegemony on the prime of the rankings. When he reached No.2 on the earth he turned the primary man exterior of the Huge 4 to take action since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.
“After I turned No.2, I didn’t even know this however everyone began saying that I’m the primary [non Big Four player to attain a Top-2 ranking] since 2005, and Lleyton Hewitt, and that was good to listen to, as a result of it implies that sure, a few of your achievements on the tennis courtroom are actually huge, and perhaps larger than I may think about.”
