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Daniil Medvedev in Acapulco
Photo: Eduardo Verdugo / dpa
Daniil Medvedev from Russia is the world number one in tennis on Monday.
In the quarter-finals of the tournament in Acapulco, the Russian defeated the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-3 and now meets the Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals in the repeat of the Australian Open final.
Medvedev expressed concern at the attack by Russian troops on Ukraine.
"Waking up here in Mexico and seeing the news from home wasn't easy," he said.
As a tennis player, he promotes peace around the world.
“We play in so many different countries, I was in so many different countries as a junior and as a professional.
It's not easy to hear all this news,” Medvedev said.
Of course he's happy to be number one, said Medvedev, describing this as a goal since childhood.
"But in these moments it is clear that tennis is sometimes not that important," said the Australian Open finalist this year and US Open winner of 2021. Medvedev reminded that the tournament in Marseille was last week Russian compatriot Andrei Rublev won the doubles title together with the Ukrainian Denis Molkhanov.
"That was great because people have to stick together," said Medvedev.
Because the previous number one Novak Djokovic (Serbia) lost on Thursday at the parallel tournament in Dubai, he will give up his lead in the world rankings to Medvedev next Monday.
Djokovic had topped the list for 361 weeks.
"It's actually not easy to play a match when you get this message during the day," Medvedev said.
He noticed Djokovic's defeat, "but I didn't know that I would be number one if he lost.
I thought I had to do something big here.
Then, when I got all the messages, I understood: Okay, it will happen.«
as /dpa/SID
