Tennis: Djokovic Remains Number One After Medvedev Loses In Miami

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DJOKOVIC

Tennis: Djokovic Remains Number One After Medvedev Loses In Miami

Daniil Medvedev missed the chance to return to the top of the rankings as he was beaten by Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open on Thursday.

Medvedev would have become world number one once again if he had defeated Hurkacz, but the defending champion won 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 on Hard Rock Stadium.

Novak Djokovic will remain the top-ranked male player on the planet, thanks to Pole Hurkacz who levelled his head-to-head record with the Russian at 2-2.

Carlos Alcaraz or Miomir Kecmanovic will battle with eighth seed Hurkacz, who won 74 per cent of points on his first serve, for a place in the final.

Hurkacz’s win over the top seed was his second against a top-two player, with the first also coming against Medvedev at Wimbledon last year.

“I think the return was crucial. I was able to make a lot of returns and get some free points on my serve, because having rallies with Daniil is fun, but they get long,” Hurkacz said on his on-court interview.

“It is good I was able to get some free points. I have spent a lot of time in Florida. So, I am used to the humidity.

“I think the conditions were in my favour today. So, I tried to use them.”