‘Ludicrous to say otherwise’ Novak Djokovic still number one in eyes of John McEnroe even if Daniil Medvedev seizes spot
John McEnroe has asserted that Novak Djokovic will still be world number one to him even if Daniil Medvedev overtakes him soon after the Australian Open.
With Djokovic absent from the ongoing Australian Open, his 2000 ranking points from winning last year’s event will drop within the next month.
Meanwhile, Medvedev could rise to take the top ranking soon after the Australian Open should he win in Melbourne.
However, McEnroe simply cannot discount the achievements of Djokovic in 2021, despite the possibility of him dropping to number two in the world.
“Let me put it a little perspective, it’s a long year,” McEnroe told Eurosport.
“I think what really matters when you become number one and it’s still a great honour whenever it happens, it’s who’s number one at the end of the year.
“The final rankings before, when all four majors are played, when all the tournaments have been played, this is the very beginning of the year and it’s still an amazing accomplishment.
“But you’re not going to sit there and tell me that Djokovic, who was number one, had three of the last four Majors and was in the final of the US Open, isn’t the number one player in the world, that’s ludicrous.
“And because of the unfortunate fact that he didn’t play here, he’s losing all the points he got that he won from the Australian Open.
“So that’s just why that happens.”
Should he become world number one, Medvedev would be the first number one other than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray since February 2004, nearly 18 years ago.
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