Daniil Medvedev is into the Almaty Open final in rather underwhelming circumstances, having progressed following Alexander Bublik’s mid-match retirement from their semi-final.
It quickly became clear that the home favourite was physically hampered, and once the former world number one sealed the first set with an ace, it was no real surprise to see him approach the net early.
Bublik waved apologetically to the crowd before taking his leave, and Medvedev had sympathetic words for his opponent afterwards.
However, in his post-match press conference, it was Alexander Zverev who briefly became the topic of conversation as he closes in on the world number one spot that Daniil Medvedev once held.
Daniil Medvedev reacts as Alexander Zverev closes in on the world number one spot
Asked on behalf of Tennishead at his latest Almaty Open press conference, Medvedev was more than happy to share how he felt that the German was deserving of being the top-ranked player in the world.
After all, with long-term injuries to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner throughout 2026, some have argued that Zverev has not properly earned the title.
How long do you think Alexander Zverev keeps the number one ranking?
He is now guaranteed to be year end number one after Carlos Alcaraz’s shock loss in Shanghai…
Medvedev disagrees.
He argued: “No, because it’s 52 weeks. Injuries are part of our sport.
“I think tennis, in terms of rankings, maybe in terms of votes or what players can say, is not the most powerful sport, but in terms of rankings, I’m not sure there is any other sport that is that fair, because it’s literally 52 weeks; whatever you’re doing, whatever you play, you get the points.
“Like, nobody can argue. Sometimes you go on social media, and they’re like, how is this guy top ten? Well, you know how? In the last 52 weeks, he won more points than other guys, and he’s in the top 10 by points in the last 52 weeks!
“So I think points is the most fair part that there is in tennis.
“Of course, probably, if Jannik had been healthy, he had big chances to win a lot more points, and that’s part of sports. Unlucky for him and Sascha deserves it, 100%.”
Earlier this season, Medvedev also said whether he was happy that Zverev had finally won a Grand Slam title after years of falling short.
Every final Daniil Medvedev has played in 2026
Having suffered with injuries that completely restricted his game in 2023, 2024 and 2025, it’s been refreshing to see Medvedev back firing on all cylinders throughout this campaign.
That is massively owed to his renewed fitness, but a coaching change after last year’s US Open has certainly helped engineer this turnaround as well.
This year has seen the 30-year-old reach more finals than he has done for three years, having just added another to his catalogue.
Medvedev’s first final of the year came in January, when he claimed the title in Brisbane. He followed that up with another piece of silverware the following month, where he was handed the Dubai title without having to play following Tallon Griekspoor’s withdrawal.
He would go on to lose his next final, this time against Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells, but bounced back more recently in Hangzhou.
Tomorrow’s clash with Nikoloz Basilashvili represents his fifth final of 2026. He reached eight finals in 2023, winning five.
