Yes, I know many would argue re who the 'true' #1 is but Medvedev has been great, especially on hard courts. And of course it is partially self inflicted by Djokovic.
Medvedev maybe downed a few vodkas with his WR 1 confirmation before losing 3 & 3 to Nadal in his Acapulco SF.
So his lead will be just 150 points. Both have 500 odd points still retained from 2019 ( none from 2020 ). So good that their ranking points have not been disproportionately effected by these old counters.
Points on 28.02 will be :
1. Medvedev 8615 ( including 8045 in the last 12 months)
2. Djokovic 8465 ( including 7920 in the last 12:months )
With Medvedev losing to Monfils in the L32 in Indian Wells, so only earning 45 pounts to replace 250 points coming off from Marselle last year, he will drop back behind Djokovic.
And with Medvedev currently counting 180 points from Miami last year, as against just 45 for Djokovic, Medvedev will need to reach the Miami SF to reclaim top spot.
With Djokovic exiting at the QF stage and Zverev painfully exiting in the SF, Medvedev will be clear WR 1 after the French Open 2021 points come off ( assumed to be on 13/06 for the ATP rankings ).
Medvedev will be just as clear WR 1 if and when the Wimbledon 2021 points come off unreplaced. But at least we will be spared the irony of him going to WR 1 because of the Wimbledon points situation as he will already be WR 1 ( although Zverev, if fit, and Nadal, if he wins the French Open, could possibly have overtaken Medvedev at Wimbledon with very good runs if points were on offer ).
With Djokovic exiting at the QF stage and Zverev painfully exiting in the SF, Medvedev will be clear WR 1 after the French Open 2021 points come off ( assumed to be on 13/06 for the ATP rankings ).
Medvedev will be just as clear WR 1 if and when the Wimbledon 2021 points come off unreplaced. But at least we will be spared the irony of him going to WR 1 because of the Wimbledon points situation as he will already be WR 1 ( although Zverev, if fit, and Nadal, if he wins the French Open, could possibly have overtaken Medvedev at Wimbledon with very good runs if points were on offer ).
Projected points at 13/06 :
1. Medvedev 7800 2. Zverev 7075 3. Djokovic 6770
Looking at the Race last night against the rankings , they do seem all over the place against each other in a way Ive not seen before. Medvedev is 1st in ranking but 8 in Race. Zverev is 2 in rankings but 5 in race. Djoko is outside the top 8 in the race; and Rafa is 4th in the rankings but top in the race.
given half the season is now played in terms of slams and masters events, this must reflect that the guys who had great ends to last season really havent come out of the blocks yet this season, and there could be a lot of movement in these rankings as we get through the US Open and towards the end of the season.