Daniil Medvedev news: Pundit says Russian deserves to be No 1, but still needs to prove he is the best player

Shahida Jacobs
March 7, 2022

He has earned the right to be No 1 in the ATP Rankings, but Daniil Medvedev “probably needs to win a couple more Grand Slams” before he can be considered as the best player in the world, according to Mats Wilander.

For the first time since 2003, a player other than Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray sits atop the ATP Rankings after Medvedev replaced Djokovic as world No 1 last week.

The Russian’s ascend to the top came on the back of three years of consistent brilliance as he won the 2021 US Open while he also finished runner-up at three majors, including the 2022 Australian Open.

Although Medvedev’s No 1 status is justified, seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander believes it is a different kettle of fish being considered the best player in the world.

“I think Daniil Medvedev will figure out how being world No 1 can help you. Obviously you have a target on your back when you are No 1 because it is the biggest win your opponent can have, to beat a world No 1,” he told Eurosport.

The Swede added: “I think that you can be No 1 in different ways. I feel like Daniil Medvedev deserves to be there, but to really go out and be looked upon as the best player in the world every day, he most probably needs to win a couple more Grand Slams while he is No 1 in the world.

“But that’s how the ranking works. That’s how the computer works and if you play a lot of tournaments and you’re consistent, you deserve to be there, but it must never be confused with being the best player in the world today and being the best player consistently over the last 12 months. There’s a huge difference between the two.”

Daniil Medvedev Mats Wilander