“Now I know I’m going to lose it” – Novak Djokovic regains World number one spot after Daniil Medvedev exits Indian Wells early
Novak Djokovic has regained the World number one position despite not even playing at the Indian Wells Masters after rival Daniil Medvedev lost to Gael Monfils.
US Open victor and World number one Medvedev suffered an early exit from the Indian Wells Masters after he lost 6-4, 3-6, 1-6 to French icon Gael Monfils in the third round.
The match lasted a total of two hours and four minutes in the sweltering desert heat as mistakes began to creep in to Medvedev’s game the longer the encounter drew on.
Paired with the extreme weather, World number 28 Monfils rolled back the years and delivered a vintage display to trouble the Russian number one and set up a round of 16 tie against Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
This is the second time in Monfils’ storied career that he has emerged victorious over a World number one.
Moreover, Medvedev’s temper flared once again when he obliterated a racket after dropping a serve in the third set. Debris went flying across his side of the court and on the change-over, Monfils was forced to brush away the scattered parts with a towel.
Medvedev has 250 points dropping from his points tally next week and had to reach the quarter-finals to make up the difference and remain the World number one.
Although, with 20-time Grand Slam legend Djokovic still not competing, Medvedev will have the opportunity to regain the title at next week’s Miami Masters. The Russian has to reach the semi-finals to pip Djokovic once again.
In his post-match press conference after his loss, a defiant and determined Medvedev shared how he will just have to try to regain the prestigious title at next week’s Miami Open.
He said “is it better to be [World] number one for, let’s say, one week in your life, or never touch it?
“I think it’s still better to at least touch it.
“Well, now I know I’m going to lose it, so I have Miami to try to get it back.
“Usually feeling a little bit better in Miami in terms of tennis, so we’ll try to play good there. I thought it could give me more motivation, well, I had motivation. It’s just that, yeah, I didn’t find my best tennis.”
And this is how he took the set ?@Gael_Monfils, ever the entertainer…#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/ACFT4dqNWp
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 14, 2022
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