Dubai – Novak Djokovic is entering his 361st week as the world’s number one tennis player. But he could lose the top spot to Daniil Medvedev in the coming days.
With a tournament win in Acapulco, the Russian Australian Open finalist will definitely replace the 34-year-old Serb as world number one next Monday. Among other scenarios, Medvedev could even move up in the event of a first-round exit should Djokovic fail to reach at least the quarter-finals in Dubai, the ATP professional organisation confirmed on Monday.
“It’s in his hands. He deserves to be number one,” Djokovic said: “If it happens this week, I will be the first to congratulate him.” The 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner returns to the tournament scene in Dubai this Monday after being expelled from Australia and for the first time this year.
Medvedev will be joined at the tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, by Spanish Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal and Olympic champion Alexander Zverev. In addition, three German qualifiers are in the top-ranked main draw: Daniel Altmaier, Oscar Otte and Peter Gojowczyk, who advanced as a so-called lucky loser.
