By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday February 22, 2022

 

Daniil Medvedev earned his first win in Acapulco on Tuesday - if he wins the title he'll rise to No.1 next week.

Photo Source: Guillermo Sanchez

Daniil Medvedev is four victories from the No.1 ranking.

The Russian, who can overtake Novak Djokovic at the top of the ATP rankings if he wins the title at Acapulco, opened accounts on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over France’s Benoit Paire.



Medvedev will face Spain’s Pablo Andujar in the second round. Even if he doesn’t claim the title there are still several scenarios by which Medvedev can become the ATP’s 27th No.1-ranked player.

Medvedev wins the Acapulco title
Medvedev reaches the Acapulco final and Djokovic does not win the Dubai title
Medvedev reaches the Acapulco SF and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai final
Medvedev reaches the Acapulco 2R or QF and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai SF
Medvedev loses in the Acapulco 1R and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai QF

Djokovic is currently into the round of 16 at Dubai, where he will face Karen Khachanov on Wednesday. The Serb has held the top spot for a record 361 weeks.

Medvedev rallied from a break down in the second set to wiggle out of a tricky encounter in straights sets. He improves to 10-2 in 2022.

"It's always not easy to come back after some rest and some time off competition," Medvedev said. "Sometimes [it is] better, sometimes [it is] worse. I felt like my sensations were not at the top today, but I managed to fight until the end against a very tough opponent and I'm happy that I managed to win."