Tennis Update: Daniil Medvedev Dethrones Djokovic as World No. 1; Zverev Fined for Outburst

Novak Djokovic’s reign as men’s singles world number one ended after losing in the quarterfinal of the Dubai Tennis Championships to Czech world number 123 Jiri Vesely. The loss relegated the 20-time Grand Slam champion to second. United States Open champion Daniil Medvedev will replace it. 

Furthermore, Djokovic has spent 361 weeks at the top of the men’s singles rankings. The relegation was due to his inactivity. This year’s Australian Open disallowed him from taking part due to being unvaccinated for the coronavirus. The Dubai tournament was the Serb’s first event this season. Medvedev’s ascent to the top of the world rankings will put him as the top favorite for online tennis betting sites in tournaments that he will compete in the future.

First since Kafelnikov, Safin

The sudden turn of events propelled Medvedev to the top spot of the men’s singles rankings. He became the third Russian man after Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin to become world number one. Medvedev defeated Djokovic in the finals of the US Open to prevent the Serb from winning a calendar-year Grand Slam last year. The 26-year-old will secure the top spot for the first time and become the 27th man to reach world number one.

Djokovic tweeted Medvedev for the feat and said the Russian is deserving to get the top seed. He is also the first man other than Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Andy Murray to be number one in 18 years. Djokovic’s conqueror Vesely felt it was good for tennis to have a new world number one with the new generation approaching.

Zverev Loses Points, Prize Money for Outburst

World number three Alexander Zverev’s post-game outburst in the Mexican Open cost him US$71,570. He lost Association of Tennis Professionals ranking points. Zverev, who won the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, lost US$31,570 of his prize money and was fined US$40,000 by the ATP after hitting the chair umpire’s stand with his racket after he lost a men’s doubles match. The tournament also kicked out the German when he yelled and cursed official Alessandro Germani. He violently struck the umpire’s chair four times.

Germani slapped Zverev with a code violation for yelling and swearing after he argued about a shot that was ruled in. Zverev was fined US$20,000 each for verbal abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct was fined to Zverev. He lost his prize money for singles and doubles (US$31,570). He also lost the rankings points earned at the tournament.

Injured Raducanu Pulls Out of Monterrey Event

British number one Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Women’s Tennis Association tournament in Monterrey, Mexico next week due to a minor injury to her left leg. The reigning US Open champion was playing in Guadalajara against Daria Saville. She retired in the third set after having played for over three hours.  The Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey and possibly the BNP Paribas Open expected her to miss them. The injury is the latest setback for Raducanu, who has not returned into form since winning the US Open.

A bout of coronavirus disrupted her pre-season training in December. A month later in Melbourne, she struggled in the Australian Open with a blister on her hand. A rash of injuries affected the British netter’s career when she was young. He hopes that these ailments would not affect her as she tries to establish her career on the main tour. Raducanu’s absence will put him out of the favorites list in WTA online betting sites.