Russia’s Daniil Medvedev recently said playing on the clay doesn’t suit his ‘Shots, Movement And Physical Appearance.’ Yet it is on this surface where he has the best shot yet to overtake Novak Djokovic and claim the world No.1 ranking.
Medvedev is currently ranked No.3 in the world behind both Rafael Nadal and Djokovic but the crucial factor in the race to the top is the amount of points he has to defend. According to the ATP, he will just drop 15 points at tournaments in Madrid, Rome and the French Open. All tournaments where he is yet to win a match. To put that into perspective, Nadal is defending 2090 points and Djokovic 1600 points.
It is possible that Medvedev could rise to the top of the rankings by as early as the conclusion of the Italian Open. Although it will be a far from easy task. To do so he is required to win either Madrid or Rome and reach the semi-final of the other. Furthermore, Djokovic must not reach the final in Rome.
Should the 25-year-old rise to the top he would become the first player outside of the Big Four to do so since Andy Roddick in January 2004. To put that into perspective between 2000-2003 seven different players achieved world No.1 status at some stage.
Despite the chance of creating history, Medvedev is sticking to much smaller goals in the coming weeks with his aim to win at least one match in every clay tournament he plays in. Quite a small target for the two-time Grand slam finalist who has won 10 ATP titles and scored 17 wins over top 10 players so far in his career.
“The goal for all three tournaments, Rome, Roland Garros, and Madrid, is to at least win one match in each of them,” he said.
“Of course, when I come to the tournament, the main goal is to win it. It’s tougher on clay than on hard court, so I will adjust, try my best and hope to show some good tennis because that’s the most important. When I show good tennis I can win some great matches.”
Medvedev will start his campaign in Madrid on Wednesday against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina who has recently reached the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters and Estoril Open.
Breakdown of points dropping in the next three big tournaments
| Player | Madrid | Rome | RG | Total | Current Points | Points After Drops |
| Djokovic | 500 | 500 | 600 | 1,600 | 11,963 | 10,363 |
| Nadal | 180 | 910 | 1,000 | 2,090 | 9,810 | 7,720 |
| Medvedev | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 9,700 | 9,685 |
