Can Daniil Medvedev Dethrone Novak Djokovic From World No. 1 Spot if He Wins Australian Open 2022?

The Australian Open 2022 men’s final saw Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev lock heads. As the world watched the Spaniard and the Russian fight it out, there was another question that loomed on everyone’s minds- one that had to do with Novak Djokovic.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic did not play the Australian Open or any tournament leading up to it. Thus, many wondered whether he would lose the top spot to Medvedev if the Russian won the tournament.

In that vein, the International Tennis Federation has cleared out the matter. The ITF released a statement explaining how the ranks could change according to the result of the Australian Open.

Daniil Medvedev will have to wait to dethrone Novak Djokovic

Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal headed into their final bout at the Australian Open as the World No. 2 and 5 respectively. Thus, the ITF statement says that they are both going to remain at those spots in the new ATP rankings, due Monday.

In fact, regardless of the result of the final match, Medvedev would not be able to surpass Novak Djokovic just yet. However, that could change in February, as the ITF provided some possible situations where the rankings could change.

Daniil Medvedev is due to participate in the Rotterdam Open in February. Thus, he could possibly take the World No. 1 spot from the Serbian if he were to win the Australian Open as well as the Rotterdam Open.

However, that would also require Djokovic to not play any tournament following the two weeks after the Australian Open. Moreover, if for some reason, Medvedev were to not play in Rotterdam or any other tournament for the next 3 weeks, he would still become the World No. 1.

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For that to happen, both Daniil and Novak would need to refrain from playing any tournament at all. Hence, Medvedev would automatically take the top spot by the 21st of February, 2022. Of course, he would also need to ensure that he wins the Australian Open.

Medvedev would make history by winning the top spot

If Daniil Medvedev were to replace Novak Djokovic as the World No. 1, he would become only the third Russian man to reach the top spot.

In doing so, Medvedev would join the elite company of Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. Kafelnikov, a 2-time Grand Slam champion, held the World No. 1 rank in 1999 for six weeks.

Similarly, Marat Safin, who retired in 2009, was the ATP World No. 1 for nine weeks in 2000-01. Thus, winning the top spot for Daniil Medvedev would etch his name in history.

Of course, it would still require for his biggest rival, Novak Djokovic, to stay away from the tour well into February. Do you think it is only a matter of time for Medvedev to become the World No. 1?

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