Novak Djokovic to be replaced as world number one by Daniil Medvedev after loss in Dubai
- Jiri Vesely, who is ranked No 123, completed a second career victory over Djokovic in just under two hours
- Djokovic congratulated Medvedev on Twitter, saying the Russian was ‘very deserving’ of the No 1 spot
Novak Djokovic will fall from No 1 in the ATP rankings and be replaced by Daniil Medvedev after losing 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Czech qualifier Jiri Vesely in the quarter finals of the Dubai Championships on Thursday.
Djokovic’s latest stay atop the rankings began on February 3, 2020, and his total of 361 weeks there are the most for any man since the tour’s computerised rankings began in 1973.
On Monday, Medvedev will move up from No 2 for the first time and become the 27th man to reach No. 1. He won the US Open last September and was the Australian Open runner-up each of the past two years.
Djokovic congratulated Medvedev on Twitter, saying the Russian was “very deserving” of the No 1 spot. Medvedev is the first man other than Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray to be No 1 since February 1, 2004.
“It’s great for tennis, I think, to have somebody new at world No 1 again,” Vesely said in his on-court interview. “Tennis needs, of course, new No 1s. A new generation is coming up. I think it’s just great.”