Photo : Wilfredo Lee/AP
In 2022, Daniil Medvedev’s reign as World No.1 was brief: 16 weeks split into two shifts.
But even if he only reascends for quick spells, he’ll still remain a contender for quite a while.
On April 1, he achieved another feat when he became the first player in 42 years to reach five ATP finals in five weeks.
A few people mocked the stat, with one Twitter user commenting that Medvedev also happens to be the most boring player in the last 42 years. It’s a flimsy statement by someone who doesn’t like the Russian’s game and one that shouldn’t ever overshadow his amazing consistency.
The streak started on February 26, when he defeated Jannik Sinner to rule over Rotterdam, and he kept the momentum going when he beat Sinner again on April 2.
It wasn’t the first time Daniil breezed through consecutive tournaments. In 2019, between July 29 and October 13, he battled in six straight finals and lifted three winner’s trophies in less than 11 weeks.
Back in 2017, Medvedev was in the very first contingent of #NextGenATP players: the up-and-comers destined for greatness.
He was in the company of fellow Russians Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev and of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Borna Coric, Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz, Matteo Berrettini, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. And Denis Shapovalov and Félix Auger-Aliassime, of course.
Read also: Daniil Medvedev continues to impress in Miami
They haven’t all delivered on expectations or stayed the course, but some will likely succeed where the earlier generation failed: by winning Grand Slam titles or becoming World No. 1.
Players like Milos Raonic, Gregor Dimitrov, David Goffin, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and Dominic Thiem, the youngest of the lot, come to mind. Only Cilic (2014) and Thiem (2020) have a major in their trophy case.
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So that’s five finals in as many weeks, in addition to his six finals in less than eleven weeks four years ago, for Daniil.
Where does he stand among the greats in the tennis pantheon? He still has a ways to go.
The most recent—and mindboggling—streak was orchestrated by Novak Djokovic. He started out 2011 with seven straight titles. For five and a half months, he was undefeated in 43 matches until Roland-Garros, where he collided with Roger Federer who went on to win his first and only Coupe des Mousquetaires.
After that, Nole got back on the warpath all the way to the finals of his next four tournaments from which he collected three winner’s trophies.
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He was 70–6 in 2011.
Before Djokovic, Ivan Lendl (1981), Bjorn Borg (1979–1980) and John McEnroe (1984) each won eight consecutive tournaments. And before them, Chris Evert secured ten straight in 1974.
And the all-time record? It belongs to Martina Navratilova, who won 13 successive titles between February and November 1984.
With parity being the name of today’s game, they all constitute examples of consistency and supremacy we’ll probably never see again.
Here are some of the players who’ve won consecutive titles. Sitting in seventh is Rafa Nadal, who could have gotten ahead of Djokovic if the Serb hadn’t caused the upset in Monte Carlo in 2013. A win would have put the Spaniard at eight straight.
Consecutive titles – WTA and ATP
- 13: Martina Navratilova (1984)
- 10: Chris Evert (1974)
- 8: Bjorn Borg (1979–1980)
- 8: Ivan Lendl (1981)
- 8: John McEnroe (1984)
- 7: Novak Djokovic (2011)
- 5: Rafael Nadal (2008)
If you think those streaks are impressive, know that, in the last century, Bill Tilden competed in 52 straight finals (1922–1926).
Tilden also holds the record with 19 consecutive titles (1924–1925), which he shares with Anthony Wilding (1914–1915).
Slowly but surely, Daniil Medvedev is winding his way back to No.1.
His five finals and four titles boosted him from No.12 on February 5 to No.4, so keep an eye on him.
He won’t be extending his streak to six finals in as many weeks, though. He’s off until the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, which gets rolling on April 9.
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Citius, Altius, Fortius, or faster, higher, stronger, as they like to say at the Olympics.
Those three words come to mind every time I watch a rally that ends up making headlines. The most recent example happened during the Alcaraz vs. Sinner semi at the Miami Open.
Read also: An Olympic medal for Canada? Why not
Tennis TV said it best:
It’s unfair to compare eras, but the level of some of the matches we’ve seen in recent years is unprecedented.
Twenty-five shots and so much more.
Formidable forehands and backhands, a drop shot–lob combo by Alcaraz, a sprint by Sinner and a dive by the Spaniard that left him splayed out on the court, short of breath and down a point.
There was even a repeat later on. A photographer had the good sense to immortalize Alcaraz’s dive in the top image.
Out of this world, indeed.
What’ll they do next?
WHY SIMPLE WHEN IT CAN BE COMPLICATED?
Edison Ambarzumjan is a 26-year-old German tennis player you’ve never heard of.
Since he secured his first and only ATP point on August 21, he’s hovered between No. 1 750 and No. 1 900. But just last month, he made headlines when social media got a glimpse of his racquet with two handles.
After watching the video, you probably had the same reaction as me and as a bunch of other people who saw it too: he doesn’t use the second handle very much. He hits a few forehands and two backhands, one of which is one-handed.
Either there’s room for improvement or the racquet doesn’t really serve a purpose or signal a tennis revolution.
At best, it’s a hybrid object that looks more like hedge shears than a tennis racquet.
Better luck next time.
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Email: privard@tenniscanada.com
Twitter: @paul6rivard
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