“Unless I win every tournament that’s left, it’s probably going to be Nadal for year-end No 1” – Medvedev

Medvedev could lose his No 1 ranking to Alexander Zverev as early as mid-August

Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Acapulco event in February 2022

Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Russia’s Daniil Medvedev after the match at the Abierto Mexicano Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

August 2, 2022

While Iga Swiatek has a lock on the world No 1 ranking on the women’s tour for the foreseeable future, the men’s world No 1 ranking could see some different faces in the coming weeks. Daniil Medvedev now; Rafael Nadal or Alexander Zverev later.

Currently world No 1, Medvedev begins his 11th week atop the world rankings as he kicks off his summer hard-court season at the Los Cabos Open, an ATP 250 event, after being forced to miss Wimbledon due to the ban of Russian players.

With the 26-year-old defending a bunch of points over the next few weeks, including the US Open title he won last year, he will have a tough time holding on to the top spot for very long.

As a matter of fact, Medvedev could have lost the No 1 ranking as early as August 15 to Alexander Zverev depending on his performance this week in Los Cabos and next week in Montreal. However, a trip to the Los Cabos final means Medvedev will maintain the top spot at least until the US Open.

Medvedev : “Sure I’m watching”

The Russian is well aware of the rankings scenario — as he told the media on Monday at the Abierto de Tenis Mifel in Los Cabos — and believes that reigning Australian Open and Roland-Garros champion Rafael Nadal will likely end the year as world No 1.

“For sure I’m watching [the race for No. 1] a little bit,” Medvedev said, as quoted by the ATP Tour website. “Depends also the moment because I know at the end of the year, unless I try to win every tournament that is left, it’s probably going to be Rafa Nadal for (the year-end No. 1). But at the same time, I feel I can keep it for quite a long time if I play good here in the (North American hard-court swing).”

Medvedev is keeping his goals pretty simple — to win tournaments — and he knows if he does that then the rankings will take care of itself.

“I know that the most important is to try to win tournaments, try to win those points,” he explained. “Then you can keep (the world No 1).”

The 26-year-old will face third-seeded Cameron Norrie in the Los Cabos final on Saturday night.

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