(ANSA) – ROME, FEBRUARY 28 – Daniil Medvedev becomes the 27th different player capable of becoming number 1 in the era of computerized ranking introduced in the ATP circuit in 1973.
Thanks to the semi-final in Acapulco, the Russian climbed to 8615 points and overtook Serbian Novak Djokovic (8465), who abdicated after a streak of 86 consecutive weeks that brought the total to 361, a record in the history of the game.
“I am happy, it was my goal since I was little and especially in the last period – said Medvedev – I have received many messages, also from other players: I want to thank everyone for the great support”.
Daniil Medvedev is the third Russian to climb to the top of the ATP ranking after Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1999) and Marat Safin (2000-01). He is also the tallest of the 27 who have occupied that position at least a week since 1973: 198 centimeters, four more than the second (Marat Safin), 23 more than the shortest (Marcelo Rios).
Medvedev’s presence interrupts a period of 6601 days in which only Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal alternated at the top. Before the Russian, the last player other than the four champions who changed the game’s history was Andy Roddick who ended his 13 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings on February 1, 2004. From the next day, Federer’s reign would begin. number 1 continuously for 237 weeks, until August 17, 2008.
Daniil’s ecstasy, Nole’s tears: the final in 12 photos From this point of view, his rise can be compared to that of Mats Wilander, number 1 for the first time in September 1988 after fourteen years of scored oligopoly among the members of another legendary quartet: Jimmy Connors, Björn Borg, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. Thanks to his new status, the Swede changed the world of men’s tennis by facilitating the birth of the ATP Tour as we know it today, but remained number 1 for only twenty weeks overall. (HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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