PARIS – Daniil Medvedev succeeded Novak Djokovic as world number one, becoming the first man since 2004 outside the game’s “Big Four” of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray to occupy the top spot.
US Open champion Medvedev is the third Russian man after Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin, and 27th player overall, to rise to the top of the ATP rankings.
The 26-year-old Medvedev, beaten by Nadal in the Acapulco semi-finals last week, was guaranteed to move above Djokovic after the Serb’s quarter-final loss in Dubai.
Djokovic, who has spent a record 361 weeks as the world number one, was competing in his first tournament of the season following his deportation from Australia in January.
Alexander Zverev stayed in third despite being thrown out of the Acapulco event after smashing his racket on the umpire’s chair several times during a doubles match.
Nadal rose one place to fourth after claiming his third title of the season and 91st of his career.
The Spaniard is unbeaten since losing to Lloyd Harris in Washington last August. He ended his 2021 season after that because of a left foot injury.
Djokovic slid down one place after having participated in only one tournament in 2022 because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
He was deported from Australia and not allowed to try to defend his title at Melbourne Park because he is not inoculated – and has said he won´t get the shots, even if he needs them to be able to play elsewhere, such as the French Open or Wimbledon.
Medvedev is the first player other than Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray to get to No. 1 since February 2004, when Andy Roddick was there.
Medvedev is also the first new No. 1 since Murray in November 2016 and the third Russian man to lead the rankings, following Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin.
“It´s a huge honor to take over this spot. I´m sure everyone can understand it comes with mixed emotions that it happens this week,” Medvedev tweeted Monday, an apparent reference to his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Thank you to my wife, team, sponsors, friends, & everyone that has helped along the way. It´s a long journey and I look forward to the years ahead.”
Djokovic’s most recent stay atop the rankings started in Feb. 3, 2020, and his total of 361 weeks there are the most for any man since the tour´s computerized rankings began in 1973.
He called Medvedev “very deserving” in a Twitter message last week.
“It´s great for tennis, I think, to have somebody new at world No. 1 again,” Jiri Vesely said after his victory over Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championships Thursday guaranteed there would be a change this week.
“Tennis needs, of course, new No. 1s. A new generation is coming up. I think it´s just great.”
The 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Medvedev plays a shifting, unusual brand of tennis, using his long limbs to help get to potential winners off opponents´ rackets while displaying a willingness to alter his tactics during the course of a match.
He has appeared in four finals at major tournaments so far, losing to Nadal at the 2019 US Open and the 2022 Australian Open – despite taking the opening two sets – and losing to Djokovic at the 2021 Australian Open before beating Djokovic at the 2021 US Open to end the Serb´s bid for the first calendar-year Grand Slam by a man in 52 years.
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