Google News Daniil Medvedev speaks on inching closer toward overtaking Novak Djokovic at No. 1
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 5302
Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev said he wants to try to remain focused on his game as he admitted it would hurt if he failed to reach the No. 1 spot this week after all the talk. Medvedev was never been closer to overtaking Novak Djokovic at the No.
1 spot as he was guaranteed to reach the top spot if he won Acapulco. Now, there is no need for Medvedev to win Acapulco in order to become the new No. 1. On Wednesday, Medvedev saw off Pablo Andujar 6-1 6-2 to reach the Acapulco quarterfinal.
On Thursday, Djokovic suffered a shock loss to Jiri Vesely in the Dubai quarterfinal. Speaking of the potential No. 1 ranking, Medvedev said, per Chris Oddo: "It’s going to be fun but first I need to achieve it because it’s going to hurt even more if we talk about this and I don’t make it, so that’s my main goal - to try and win as many matches as possible in the next three weeks and then see: where did I come?”
Medvedev has everything in his hands
When asked about Medvedev potentially becoming No.
1 this week, Djokovic claimed Medvedev deserves the spot and added he would be the first to congratulate him. "He deserves to be No. 1. Eventually it's going to happen. If it happens this week, I'll be the first one to congratulate him," Djokovic said.
When Medvedev was asked about Djokovic's comments, Medvedev said the Serb wasn't lying. Medvedev praised Djokovic as he said the 20-time Grand Slam champion is always the first to congratulate when someone hits a major mark.
"He's speaking the truth. Every time I achieved something, and not only me, we can see that for many players, Novak always congratulates everybody," Medvedev said. Medvedev captured his maiden Grand Slam title after handing a straight-set defeat to Djokovic in last year's Us Open final.