Alcaraz’s tennis level is insane and he knows it – Medvedev on his successor at the top of the rankings

Daniil Medvedev may have lost his world No 1 ranking to Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz but the Russian has nothing but praise for the new Grand Slam champion.

Alcaraz won the US Open last week in dramatic fashion to become the youngest ever to win the American Slam and also supplant Medvedev at the top of the world rankings.

“He’s the youngest world No. 1 ever, and it says a lot because we had quite a few great champions in tennis’ history,” Medvedev told Eurosport. “What he’s done since the beginning of his career is just completely insane. It’s ridiculous. The guy is 19. His tennis level is insane and he knows it. During the summer, it seemed he was a little bit in trouble. Lost some matches against [Cameron] Norrie or [Tommy] Paul, he had some tough moments. But then in Flushing Meadows, I mean, the guy plays five-set matches, finishes at 3am, recovers, wins the trophy and becomes No. 1.”

Medvedev added that he has not had the opportunity to congratulate the Spaniard in person but plans to do it very soon.

“Congrats to Carlos. I like him a lot. Nice guy, we often speak together. I did not have the opportunity to congratulate him in person but I will do it soon.”

“I have no feelings about it, no reason to cry.” – Medvedev on losing the top spot

With his US Open title defence ending in the fourth round this year, Medvedev dropped to the No 4 position in the rankings, behind Alcaraz, US Open runner-up Casper Ruud and Rafael Nadal. But the Russian says he did not feel very bad about losing the top spot because he knows that he did not earn enough points through the American summer.

“To be honest, I didn’t feel much when I lost the No. 1 spot,” said Medvedev. “The ranking is the consequence of your results and if we take the American summer, for example, I did not take enough points to stay No. 1, or even No. 2 or 3. Whereas Casper, Carlos, Rafa, [Nadal] of course, with the two Grand Slams he won at the start of the year, they took a lot more points. So, it’s just logical. I have no feelings about it, no reason to cry. I can only tell myself that I have to do better if I want to find this place in the future.”

Medvedev is planning to play a full schedule in the coming months in a bid to get himself in the best shape possible for the Australian Open in January and close in on his rivals in the rankings.

“It’s a very important part of the season for me,” said Medvedev. “I really like playing indoors, so I only find positives in this part of the season. Indoor is very different, you always have to adapt. Paris and the ATP Finals are obviously the biggest [events]. I will play three tournaments before Paris. I have great motivation. Of course, there is no Grand Slam ahead and it’s the only time in the season where you play tournaments without a Slam coming.”

“But next year, the Australian Open will come very fast after the end of the season. So it’s important to gain confidence at the end of the year. It’s the best way to prepare for next season and especially the Australian Open. It’s important for me to take a lot of points indoors to be seeded as high as possible in Melbourne. With all the tournaments I will play, I can take as much as 3750 points. Of course, it will be almost impossible to reach that, but 2500, 3000, why not? It would be cool to end the year that way. If I manage to collect a lot of points, then, maybe, I’ll have a chance to regain the No. 1 spot in the coming year.”

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