Medvedev’s loss was Djokovic’s gain
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — So the unvaccinated Serb who isn’t even here because he’s unvaccinated will slip back atop the men’s rankings because the Russian who is here came apart in his match against the Frenchman.
Yes, tennis is very international. And at times quite nonsensical.
At the start of the second week of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, it was more a case of what didn’t happen than what did.
You like warmth? It was 86 degrees around 3 p.m. Monday.
You like upsets? Gael Monfils came from a set down and beat Daniil Medvedev, 4-6. 6-3, 6-2.
You like familiarity? Our old (relatively speaking) pal Rafael Nadal defeated Dan Evans, 7-5, 6-3, and now has won 17 straight matches and a total of 400 his career.
The ranking system in both men’s and women’s tennis seems part hopscotch, part quantum physics. Sure, victories are the most important element, but it’s also a matter of when and against whom. And don’t take time off for illness or injury, or you’re likely to plummet to where they’ll never find you on the chart.
This was a prelude to deal with Novak Djokovic, who won’t follow procedures in preventing Covid-19, and his opponent, Medvedev.
Novak loves Indian Wells and won it a few times. But he cannot play in the great state of California, as he could not in the great land of Australia because he is adamant about not receiving a vaccination.
That didn’t temporarily displace him from No. 1 in the rankings, Medvedev did. But Medvedev’s loss Monday means Djokovic gets the last laugh by regaining first place.
“He steps up the level a little bit,” Medvedev said, alluding to Monfils. “I couldn’t find it. I’m actually playing a little bit bad, which for me is not a bad thing.
“Yeah. I just couldn't find my rhythm and completely lost it in the third set because, I think actually first match and first set maybe played even a little bit bad, not a bad thing with me. So I think I got a little bit too confident in that, OK? I'm starting to feel my rhythm.
“Maybe should have paid more attention to small details, which, yeah, in the third set is really tough to get it back, and, yeah, it was going easy for him.”
Asked if there was added pressure because of the No. 1 ranking. Medvedev said, “Definitely not pressure. I thought it could give me more motivation, well, I have been motivated. It's just that, yeah, as I say, I didn't find my best tennis. Well, now I know l’m going to lose the No. 1. When I play my best tennis, it’s tough to beat me.”
Monfils, 35, has always been among the game’s most recognized players, agile and quick if not always consistent. A year ago he married Elina Svitolna, one of the top female competitors, and because she is Ukrainian as much in the headlines for her nationality as for her tennis.
He has been around, heard all the questions, given all the answers.
Monfils tried to downplay the win, realizing that at this stage — he beat Nadal 13 years ago — it’s as much a grind as a game.
“It's tough because you guys make it,” Monfils said, meaning the media.
“I make it like a good win, you know? But tough. I played a great player, of course, one of the best players. I just felt good today. Tactically, I was good. I'm full of confidence, of course, so you know, I'm just happy to win this match.”
As happy as Medvedev was unhappy to lose his — and fall from No. 1.