Daniil Medvedev, the Russian number 1 ATP who broke the hegemony of the Big 4 and today defends peace

The update the tennis world was waiting for but perhaps not ready to see. After 18 years, a new name joins the exclusive list of world tennis numbers 1. Today you see Daniel Medvedev on top of the rankingwith which a dominance of almost two decades of the ‘Big 4’, made up of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, will be cut.

The Russian tennis player, who reached the semifinals in Acapulco, benefited from the defeat of nole in the Dubai quarterfinals and snatched number 1. The last name other than the ‘Big 4′ was Andy Roddickwho was as leader until February 1, 2004.

Between 2000 and 2004, six tennis players passed for the leadership of the ranking, with Hewitt reigning for two years as the longest lead. Then, in 18 years, only four names were repeated. The Big 4 dominate tennis. doMedvedev Did it arrive for the generational cut?

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“It is totally deserved. He has been quite regular for some time. He already knows what it is to win a big one”explains in his analysis the Spanish journalist José Morón for his portal PuntodeBreak, and Medvedev is the answer when you ask who would be the ‘NextGen‘ who was going to strike against the ‘Big 3’ –Murray was left out of the circuit due to injuries–.

The Russian already knew how to beat Djokovic to win the 2021 US Open – in addition to three other victories over the Serbian – and reached three other finals: US Open 2019 (loses to Nadal) and in Australia (2021 and 2022, which he loses to nole and Raferespectively), although he beat the Spaniard in the semifinals of the 2020 ATP Finals.

“It is surprising because it was not counted on that Djokovic do not compete in Australia and the ‘Big 3’ is still valid with nole and Rafe, but deserved because it was going to happen at some point. He had been asking for a flat, 26 years old, with a personality of being calculating in his matches, a lot of versatility to play and with his strong character ”tells us Yeltsin Ramírez, a journalist from “Peruvian Tennis”.

“I think it’s too early to talk about a new era, but I’m happy to have been able to achieve some of the goals”Daniil assured when he was asked if the ‘Big 3’ has already gone down in history.

It will be number one for two weeks. On March 14, he will lose 250 points from the Marseille 2021 tournament – ​​which he did not play this year – and the leadership would be regained by Nole, but momentarily, because at that time Daniil will be playing in Indian Wells, where he does not defend units, so by the 21st he could be on top again, since Djokovic will not compete because he is not vaccinated.

“There it will be seen if what Medvedev has achieved is a flash in the pan. Key weeks are coming for it”Yeltsin, a specialist in national tennis, reiterates to us, but who does not stop following world sport.

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Not to the war

Beyond having reached number 1, the situation also affected Medvedev. He plays with the Russian flag, but he made it clear that he does not agree with the situation that his country has caused with the invasion of Ukraine. Although at first she did not want to delve into the subject, she pleaded for everything to end. “As a tennis player, I want to promote peace around the world. We play in many different countries. It is not easy to hear all this news. I am for peace,” she declared a couple of days ago.

However, yesterday he went deeper and said that many dreams are ending with the war. “I want to speak on behalf of the children. Everyone has dreams, their lives are just beginning… that’s why I want to ask for peace. Children believe a lot in everything, in love, safety and justice. Let’s be together and show them that it’s true, because all children should not stop dreaming “, he published on his social networks with the hashtag #kiddontstopdreaming (children, do not stop dreaming).

That is Daniil, a tennis player who used to break rackets when he was young and who still argues with referees and the public, but who now thinks of everyone’s peace of mind.