Medvedev passes Nadal and breaks the yoke of the Big Four in the top-2

Daniil Medvedev, champion on Sunday at the ATP 250 in Marseille, is since Monday at number two in the world ranking, the highest position in his fledgling career, ahead of Rafa Nadal himself, whom he relegates to third position. The 25-year-old Russian, winner this year with his country of the ATP Cup and finalist of the Australian Open, already has 9,940 points, while the Balearic remains with 9,670 because 50% (180) of those he won is subtracted in Indian Wells two years ago, under the new rule that will make the results obtained by tennis players between March 4 and August 5, 2019 in tournaments that were not played in 2020, extend for another 52 weeks, but computed in half.

The Muscovite ends the tyranny of the Big Four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray) in the top-2. He is the first player outside of that select club to slip into one of the top two places in the standings since July 25, 2005, when Australian Lleyton Hewitt lost number two. Medvedev credits a 14-2 record this year, with losses to Djokovic in Melbourne and Dusan Lajovic in Rotterdam, his only puncture so far this year. But success comes from further afield. Last year he finished it with a 28-2 record and two titles, including the ATP Finals, in which he beat Djokovic, Nadal and Thiem in one fell swoop. “It's a really cool achievement. It makes me happy, but when you achieve something new, you want to go higher and higher.”says Daniil.

For the rest, in the ranking there are other movements in the first 15 places. Djokovic is number one and has already accumulated 312 weeks as leader. Roberto Bautista goes from 13 to 12 after being a finalist in Doha. Pass Gael Monfils. And another Spaniard, Pablo Carreño, returned to 15th place without having played last week, to the detriment of Milos Raonic, who was also overtaken by Dimitrov, Fognini and Auger-Aliassime. The most significant movement in terms of number of positions is featured Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who lost in the Marseille final against Medvedev, but climbs 18 places to 75th.

Muguruza finally advances

In the female ranking there are no changes in the first 12 places. Due to the pandemic, the current system makes it very difficult for tennis players to lose points. Ashleigh Barty is still on the throne, with Osaka and Halep as immediate pursuers and if there is movement further back. Garbiñe Muguruza, champion in Dubai, rises from 16th to 13th place, passing Brady, Azarenka and Swiatek. She is second in the race to the WTA Finals after Osaka. Elise Mertens went from 18th to 17th, ahead of Johanna Konta. Barbora Krejcikova, defeated by Muguruza, advances 26 places, to 37. And Sara Sorribes wins 14 and is 57th, in the best position of her career.