Column: Daniil Medvedev falls while Rafael Nadal shines at Indian Wells

Daniil Medvedev’s tenure because the No. 1 participant in males’s tennis might be temporary, destined to final merely two weeks due to his loss Monday to a wise and energized Gael Monfils within the third spherical of the BNP Paribas Open.

Beneath a rating system primarily based on defending beforehand earned factors, Medvedev will drop to No. 2 behind Novak Djokovic subsequent week, regardless that Djokovic didn’t compete right here as a result of he’s unvaccinated and wasn’t allowed to enter the USA. However this certainly received’t be the one time the 6-foot-6 Russian with the big attain and odd kind on his groundstrokes holds the highest spot within the rankings, and he was philosophical about its imminent finish.

“Is it higher to be No. 1 for, let’s say, one week in your life or by no means contact it?” he stated. “You already know, I feel it’s nonetheless higher to no less than contact it.”

Rafael Nadal, who spent 209 weeks of his legendary profession at No. 1, has stated he’s not involved about sitting atop the rankings or being judged the best of all time regardless that his longevity and flexibility elevate him alongside Djokovic and Roger Federer in any GOAT dialogue. At 35, his focus is on nursing his chronically injured left foot, which has led him to skip subsequent week’s occasion in Miami so he can higher put together for the clay court docket season and presumably prolong his personal file to win a 14^th French Open title.

Nadal’s technique has been resoundingly profitable, permitting him to defy the calendar whereas successful a males’s-record 21^st Grand Slam singles title and compiling a 17-0 file this 12 months. It’s beautiful and it’s not as a result of it’s Nadal, the person of 1,000,000 comebacks.

“There is no such thing as a different probability however play very nicely the subsequent day if I need to hold going,” he stated. “If not, I going to return dwelling.”

Medvedev’s and Nadal’s paths crossed Monday at Indian Wells Tennis Backyard. Medvedev began the day’s motion by crumbling when Monfils pressured his forehand and broke away for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory. Nadal, pushed to a third-set tiebreaker in his earlier match towards up-and-coming American Sebastian Korda, was subsequent on court docket. Enjoying below cloudless blue skies, absorbing the warmth and the heat of the group’s affection, Nadal got here again from a break down early to search out his rhythm and grind out a 7-5, 6-3 choice over Daniel Evans.

Nadal, ranked No. 4 on this planet and seeded No. 4 right here, will face big-serving No. 17 seed Reilly Opelka within the fourth spherical, on Wednesday. Nadal wasn’t solely happy along with his effort however was completely happy along with his incremental progress.

“It was essential that I can win these first two matches with out enjoying implausible, however right this moment was a bit of bit higher than the primary day,” Nadal stated. “Now I’ve an opponent in entrance that makes me play at my highest stage. I do know I’ve to do it. Typically it’s sort of [a] obligatory factor that helps to make that occur.”

In earlier years, Medvedev has reveled in enjoying the position of villain on the court docket. On the 2019 U.S. Open, he was booed after he snatched a towel from a ballperson and raised his center finger towards the chair umpire, and he informed the crowds he was drawing power from their hostility. He was the man you liked to hate.

Medvedev has cleaned up his act, although he had an outburst Monday. Pissed off after shedding the second set and hitting a forehand lengthy to present Monfils a break to open the third set, Medvedev slammed his racket on the bottom 3 times. Boos rained down, adopted by a code violation warning. Slivers of carbon from his smashed racket littered the court docket. Monfils later brushed them away with a towel.

Medvedev did redeem himself along with his gracious response to Monfils’ impressed victory. “Second and third set was not that shut, to be sincere,” Medvedev stated. “The third set, , it’s powerful to speak about turning factors or one thing like this. I simply performed probably not nicely. Gael, in distinction, performed actually good.”

Monfils, who peaked at No. 6 on this planet in 2016 and now ranks 28^th, recorded the second victory of his profession over a No. 1-ranked participant. The primary was over Nadal in 2009.

Requested the place this triumph ranked in his profession, Monfils appeared stunned it might be thought of a milestone second. “I make it like a superb win, ? However powerful,” he stated. “I performed an incredible participant, in fact, among the finest gamers. I simply felt good right this moment. Tactically, I used to be good. I’m filled with confidence, in fact, so, , I’m simply completely happy to win this match.”

He was the group favourite Monday towards Medvedev. Their first set went on serve till Medvedev broke for a 5-4 lead and held for the set; Monfils went up a break within the second set for a 3-1 lead however Medvedev broke again to drag inside 3-2. After Medvedev held serve, Monfils received the final three video games, stunning Medvedev with an underarm serve on set level.

The momentum shifted when Monfils broke Medvedev’s serve within the first sport of the third set. “I felt one thing was a bit of bit totally different,” stated Monfils, who will face 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz within the fourth spherical. “He was a bit off, complaining. He broke his racket, complaining about his forehand a bit of bit. And, in fact, when you’ve gotten this data, you attempt to press a bit of bit extra on it and be extra aware of it.”

Medvedev will return to No. 1 sometime, perhaps after the Miami Open. Nadal’s days as No. 1 seemingly are over, however his greatness stays in his persistence and pursuit of excellence. Get pleasure from him when you can.