"Won more points than anyone else" - Medvedev backs Alcaraz as No. 1
ATP
Daniil Medvedev praised Carlos Alcaraz as the deserved World No. 1, as the Spaniard won the most points in the past 52 weeks.
Medvedev is a very pragmatic person whose pragmatic approach shines every time he opens his mouth. There is very little to misinterpret in the words of the Russian, who was quite clear in his complimentary words to Alcaraz following the Indian Wells Open final.
The Russian player finds Alcaraz to be the deserving World No. 1 player after the past 52 weeks of play.
"Carlos is deservedly World No. 1. He has won more points than everybody else in last 52 weeks, and that's how rankings work. Yeah, he was also year-end No. 1 last year, so that's something I haven't done, so I'll try, for sure, in my career. Yeah."
Despite that, Medvedev still considers Novak Djokovic one of the best because he proved it at the Australian Open. He's not a World No. 1 player, as he wasn't able to play some events, and his Wimbledon triumph left him with no points, but that's just the reality of the situation.
Medvedev added that the reality of the situation has to be accepted whatever it is.
"Same about Novak. For sure if he would be able to play last year and this year all the tournaments, there is a possibility that the rankings would be different. But... But, there shouldn't be no 'buts.'"
The next few weeks will mostly be played on clay, and it's not a surface Medvedev particularly enjoys, but he's confident he can play well on the surface, judging by some of his previous results on it. He's feeling good about his chances.
"Sliding is a little bit something that's not easy for me on clay courts. But I made some good results in the past on clay courts in some big tournaments. I'm feeling great right now at this part of the season, mentally, physically, honestly, in my tennis."
