Tennis has a new world number one. Step forward Daniil Medvedev.
After Novak Djokovic’s shock loss to Jiří Veselý in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open, the result ensured that as of Monday, Medvedev will be the top dog in men’s tennis.
It is sensational to think that no-one outside the top four of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Andy Murray have been world number one in the past 17 years.
It has been a near impossible stranglehold to break, but Medvedev has done just that, in completing what must be a lifetime achievement unlocked.
Last night, he played Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, for a place in the semi-finals, with both players putting on a show.
Nishioka, visible in his bright yellow shirt, showed Medvedev what he was capable of in the opening game, winning a lengthy exchange.
But Medvedev got the early break with a fine cross-court backhand winner to move 2-0 up.
Nishioka didn’t give up and surprisingly broke back immediately as Medvedev fired long.
The new world number one played a sublime drop shot and it set the tempo as he broke to love and soon took the opening set 6-2.
Nishioka continued to crunch the ball as well, and demonstrated what he is capable of as he broke Medvedev in the opening game of the second set, after a gruelling rally.
The Japanese continued to thrill the crowd and won some outstanding points.
However, it was not enough as two breaks of serve saw Medvedev seal the match with a thundering ace out wide, 6-2, 6-3, to complete a dream day.
Afterwards, on Stadium, Nadal burst out of the blocks fast as he broke opponent Tommy Paul in the opening game.
In fact, he broke the American in every game of the first set to clinch the 6-0 bagel with some power tennis.
His famous lasso forehand was firing in winners all over the court.
The second set, was in stark contrast to the first, as Paul came out swinging freely, knowing he had nothing to lose, and playing with the house money.
Worryingly for Nadal, he seemed to tire as the match wore on and looked drenched in the Acapulco heat.
The set would be decided by a tie-break, after Paul saved a set-point.
And the world number 39 zoomed into a 2-0 mini break lead, but Nadal was having none of it as he pummelled a forehand winner, to at last get on the scoreboard.
The Spaniard eventually forged a 5-3 lead, and Paul played some stunning shots to get level at 5-5.
But it wasn’t enough as some monster serving from Nadal saw him seal the final two points of the tie breaker to cap off a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) victory.
In doing so, Nadal vs Medvedev will be a rematch of the thrilling Australian Open final, just under a month ago.
World number four, Stefanos Tsitsipas then blasted past American Marcos Giron, showcasing a nice touch of drop shots and classy volleys, as he won 6-3, 6-4.
He will play Britain’s Cameron Norrie next, who is now on a seven-match unbeaten run, after his tournament win in Delray Beach, and this week’s wins in Mexico.
Norrie was mightily impressive as he lost only one game, in blasting Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk off the court, 6-1, 6-0.
James Spencer comment:
I had predicted Medvedev vs Nadal, and, Tsitsipas vs Norrie, semi-final match-ups.
I think capturing the world number one ranking so soon is going to be a massive weight of Medvedev’s shoulders, and I think it will give him the confidence boost to beat a weary looking Nadal.
The heat seems to have taken a lot out of him and he was only in his press conference for five minutes on Wednesday night, after his win against Kozlov.
This makes me think Medvedev has more energy than the Spaniard, right now. And certainly, the adrenaline and ego boost of being the new world number one.
It would also be sweet revenge for Medvedev, after the Australian Open final loss.
As I said in my previous piece, I think Norrie will feel the effects of being on court so much in this past week, that Tsitsipas will make it back-to-back finals in Acapulco.
