Novak Djokovic dethroned as world No 1 by Daniil Medvedev post loss in Dubai

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic will be replaced as No. 1 by Russian player Daniil Medvedev after losing 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships on Thursday.

The 34-year-old grabbed the No. 1 in the ATP rankings on February 3, 2020, and his total of 361 weeks at the spot are the most for any man since the tour’s computerized rankings began in 1973.

On Monday, Medvedev will move up from the No. 2 spot for the first time and become the 27th man to reach No. 1.

The Russian player, who won the US Open last September and was the Australian Open runner-up each of the past two years, is the first man other than Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray to be No. 1 since February 2004.

The Dubai Championship was Djokovic’s first tournament since being deported from Australia last month for not being vaccinated against the coronavirus. This prevented him from being able to defend his Australian Open title.

“I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open. I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” he had said in a statement at the time. 

On the other hand, Medvedev is currently playing at the Mexican Open, winning in the second round on Wednesday.

After beating Pablo Andujar, Medvedev said of getting to No. 1: “If I do it it’s going to mean a lot.”