Medvedev on No 1 ranking – I want to be back there

Daniil Medvedev is hungry to reclaim the No 1 ranking – and create a cushion between himself and Novak Djokovic so that he can stay there for a while.

Daniil Medvedev hits a shot in his 2nd round match at the BNP Paribas open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Chris Oddo

March 27, 2022

Daniil Medvedev’s three-week stint at the top of the ATP rankings has left him hungry for more. As the 27th player in ATP history to climb to the top of the rankings, the 26-year-old achieved a lifelong dream. But he hopes it is only the beginning.

Reaching world No 1 is a huge target achieved for @DaniilMedwed – and he wants to get back there again soon.

"It felt good to touch it. It's something that nobody can take away from me. Yeah, it's like it's done.
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) March 26, 2022

Motivated for a return to No 1

Medvedev, who faces Pedro Martinez in third-round action at the Miami Open on Monday, would like to produce a big performance this week, so he can assure himself of a few more weeks at the top. If Medvedev reaches the semifinals he will pass Novak Djokovic, but if he can take the title, he’d add another 640 points to his rankings total.

“The thing is that if I get it back by making semis, I’m going to have more motivation to try to win the tournament, because like this, I’m going to win 700 more points than for semis, and it’s going to be a bigger gap,” Medvedev told reporters on Saturday. “So, yeah, I think I’m definitely happy that I have reached it, and a lot of motivation to try to be there for a long time.”

Medvedev says he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, however.

“I always prepare match by match, so for example, I’m not looking to semis here,” Medvedev said. “I will be looking to the match against Pedro, but definitely I have a lot of motivation to try and get it back.”

Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

In the No 1 club and nobody can take that away

In his first event as the reigning No 1, Medvedev didn’t play well at Indian Wells, where he lost to Gael Monfils in the third round.

Did his poor performance at Indian Wells leave a bad taste in his mouth? His stint atop the ATP rankings didn’t last long, but it still left a lasting impression on him.

“It’s kind of both, because definitely want to be back there,” Medvedev said. “You know, felt good to touch it. It’s something that nobody can take away from me. Yeah, it’s like it’s done. Nobody can say, Yeah, but you were only, yeah, for two weeks – I was there.”

Being a part of a special group of players – just 27 in nearly 50 years of ATP rankings history – is something that Medvedev will cherish, whether he returns to No 1 or not.

“Many, many, many great players, legends of our sport haven’t done this, so I’m happy about it,” he said, adding: “But definitely when I lost it, not playing good in Indian Wells, I was like, Yeah, okay, back to the practice court, have to make semis in Miami to get it back. Let’s try to do it.”