Daniil Medvedev isn't spending his days dreaming of seizing the top spot—he's investing energy in achieving it.
The second-ranked Russian opened one of the most important weeks of his career defeating Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4 in his Acapulco opener.
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US Open champion Medvedev can surpass Novak Djokovic for the world No. 1 ranking by winning the Acapulco title this week. If he does it, Medvedev will become the first world No. 1 other than Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray since 2004.
As he's continued his climb toward the summit of the sport, Medvedev says No. 1 is no longer a dream, it's an achievable goal.
"I would say more when I was young, because when you are young you think that it's impossible, so that's why you dream about it," Medvedev told the media in Acapulco. "When it becomes more and more close to you that's when you dream less about it and you do more to achieve it. You try to work even harder.
"I always say this week it depends not only on me, but on Novak also. So, so far it's not really like sticking to my mind. But I know next three tournaments I manage to get some good amount of points it can be possible that's what I'm going to try to do."
Even if Medvedev doesn't do it this week with the unvaccinated Djokovic, at the moment, unlikely to be permitted to enter the United States to play Indian Wells next month, Medvedev knows he has a three-tournament window to rise to the top.
"It's not even a dream anymore, it's a goal," Medvedev said. "I have to try to play good these three tournaments. If I manage to do it, I'm gonna have the chance."
In his Dubai presser, Djokovic said he will be the first to congratulate Medvedev when he reaches the top. Asked his reaction to those remarks, Medvedev replied: "he's speaking the truth."
"Every time I achieve something, not only me—we can see in many players—Novak always congratulates everybody," Medvedev said, adding, "I don't think at least when I came on tour where you gonna find one match where after the match Novak is gonna say something bad about the opponent not congratulate him and that's how he is. I am sure I'm gonna achieve and it's gonna be like this.
"But I have to achieve it first and that's the toughest part."
Photo credit: Guillermo Sanchez