Losing world No. 1 ranking inspired reflective response in US Open champion.
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 14, 2022
Daniil Medvedev lost the world No. 1 ranking and gained first-hand experience in the toughest task in tennis.
The top-seeded Medvedev lost to Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Indian Wells today, which means Novak Djokovic surpasses him and will regain the top spot on Monday.
More: Magic Monfils Topples Medvedev from Top Spot
Losing world No. 1 ranking inspired reflective response in US Open champion.
Medvedev said it reinforced the toughest task in tennis: winning consistently when you're expected to win.
"I always say, when I play my best tennis, my good tennis, it's really tough to beat me," Medvedev told the media in Indian Wells. "But that's the toughest part of tennis is to reproduce it time after time.
"That's where the big three are just unreal because no matter which conditions, no matter which surface, they are always winning tournaments a lot of the time or winning some crazy matches. Yeah, I'm going to need to try to do better."
Monfils The good news for Medvedev is he's felt more comfortable in Miami where he reached the quarterfinals last spring.
Medvedev said he's more motivated to make another run at the top at the Miami Open.
"Definitely not pressure. I thought it could give me more motivation, well, I had motivation," Medvedev said. "It's just that, yeah, as I say, I didn't find my best tennis.
"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."
Photo credit: Getty
