"Probably Rafa": Medvedev bets on Nadal in the fight for number one
Daniil Medvedev believes that Rafael Nadal will end 2022 as the world number one.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Aug 03, 2022, 05:11 pm
Since mid-June, Daniil Medvedev has again been officially listed as the best tennis player on the planet, but the results so far in 2022 are unlikely to have been satisfactory for the 26-year-old. The Russian has not yet been granted a tournament victory in the current calendar year, he probably missed his greatest chance at the beginning of the year at the Australian Open.
Medvedev had already worked his way up a 2-0 set lead against Rafael Nadal in the final, but the Spaniard ultimately left Melbourne as a glorious winner. A similar picture emerged in Paris in June, where Nadal accepted Grand Slam trophy number 22 after a far less dramatic final against Casper Ruud.
Nadal is currently third in the world rankings
Nadal is currently "only" third in the world rankings, but Medvedev believes that the 36-year-old will end the year as the industry leader. "I know that at the end of the year, if I don't try to win every remaining tournament, Rafa will probably be number one," the Russian told ATP .
Medvedev is currently in Los Cabos, where he should be able to win the first tournament of the year. After that, the man from Moscow will face the two ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati before he goes to New York to defend his title. At the US Open, a preliminary decision could already be made on the question of who ends the year as number one.
Medvedev is combative
Despite Nadal's good starting position - the Iberian won't have to defend any more points for the rest of the year - Medvedev doesn't want to take himself out of the race for number one from next week: "At the same time, I have the feeling that I've been keeping her for quite a long time I can keep time if I play well here."
Medvedev could make the first small step in the second round in Los Cabos against Rinky Hijikata. The goals for the coming weeks are clearly defined for the 26-year-old: "I know that the most important thing is to win tournaments and try to get those points. Then you can keep number one."