Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the world’s top two players and have shared the last nine Grand Slams.
The question is, who is the third-best player on the ATP Tour?
Well, according to the rankings, it’s 24-time major winner, Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic or Tiger Woods… who is the better sportsman? 🤔
But former American player Sam Querrey disagrees, and instead claims someone ranked outside the top 10 is actually worthy of a top-three spot.
Sam Querrey claims Daniil Medvedev is a top-three player
During the latest episode of ‘Nothing Major‘, Querrey argued that Medvedev is a top-three player right now.
“Take the rankings away right now, I think if you just ask guys around the tour, who are the three best players on tour, right now, they’d say Carlos [Alcaraz], Jannik [Sinner], [Daniil] Medvedev,” he said.
“He’s playing that well.
“He routined everyone in Dubai; he’s routined everyone here.”
Medvedev won the Dubai Tennis Championships title last time out and is now in the semifinals of Indian Wells.
Daniil Medvedev’s winning streak
- 1. 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships 1R [WIN] vs Juncheng Shang, 6-1, 6-3
- 2. 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships 2R [WIN] vs Stan Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-3
- 3. 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships QF [WIN] vs Jenson Brooksby, 6-2, 6-1
- 4. 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships SF [WIN] vs Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-4, 6-2
- 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships F [Walkover] vs Tallon Griekspoor
- 5. 2026 Indian Wells 2R [WIN] vs Alejandro Tabilo, 6-4, 6-2
- 6. 2026 Indian Wells 3R [WIN] vs Sebastian Baez, 6-4, 6-0
- 7. 2026 Indian Wells 4R [WIN] vs Alex Michelsen, 6-2, 6-4
- 8. 2026 Indian Wells QF [WIN] vs Jack Draper, 6-1, 7-5
He’s down in 11th in the ‘Live Rankings’, but sits third in the ‘Race to Turin’.
Live ATP Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 13,550 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 10,800 |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 5,370 |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 4,905 |
| 5 | Lorenzo Musetti | Italy | 4,365 |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 4,185 |
| 7 | Taylor Fritz | USA | 4,170 |
| 8 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 4,000 |
| 9 | Ben Shelton | USA | 3,860 |
| 10 | Alexander Bublik | Kazakhstan | 3,365 |
| 11 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia | 3,360 |
Live ATP Race
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 2,900 |
| 2 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 1,400 |
| 3 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia | 1,400 |
| 4 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 1,300 |
| 5 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 1,290 |
| 6 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 1,035 |
| 7 | Ben Shelton | USA | 1,000 |
| 8 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 915 |
| 9 | Jakub Mensik | Czechia | 845 |
| 10 | Alexander Bublik | Kazakhstan | 750 |
That means Medvedev has accumulated the third most points of any player on tour this year.
Looking at those numbers, Querrey might be right…
His podcast co-hosts weren’t so sure, though.
“I think he’s like a top eight guy,” said Steve Johnson.
“No, he’s definitely top five,” said John Isner, and Jack Sock agreed.
Johnson suggested that Jack Draper, who lost to Medvedev at Indian Wells, may be better than the Russian.
“I would take [Jack] Draper, the way he played up until that point over him, it’s tough to come back the next day after beating Novak [Djokovic],” he said.
“That was an incredible win. Draper healthy is a top-five guy.”
Querrey agreed but reiterated his point about Medvedev, predicting where he will be ranked later this year.
“He was top five last year,” said Querrey.
“Medvedev right now is playing unbelievable tennis, he’s going to be back in the top five in the next six months.”
Johnson, still unconvinced, joked about the obstacle that may stand in Medvedev’s way.
“Unless a video assistance review goes against him and he blows up on the crowd!” he said.
Medvedev benefited from a controversial hindrance call during his quarterfinal win over Jack Draper.
It’s not outrageous to suggest Medvedev wouldn’t have reacted as well to the decision as Draper did, had he been on the receiving end of the point deduction.
The 2021 US Open champion won’t want to worry himself with that now, though, as he turns his attention to the Indian Wells semifinals.
Daniil Medvedev looks for Indian Wells revenge vs Carlos Alcaraz
Medvedev and Alcaraz have met twice before at Indian Wells.
The Spaniard beat his Russian rival in back-to-back Indian Wells finals.
- 2023 Indian Wells F – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev
- 2024 Indian Wells F – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev will be desperate to pick up his first win over Alcaraz in California when they meet in this year’s semifinals.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
Medvedev and Alcaraz will battle it out for a spot in the Indian Wells final on Saturday, March 14.
