US Open champion Daniil Medvedev is inching closer to becoming the first player outside the Big 4 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray) to take on as World No 1 since 2004.
Medvedev suffered a heartbreaking five-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open in January.
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But the Russian is close to taking over the World No 1 spot from Djokovic.
The Serb currently has 10,875 points while Medvedev is hot on his heels with 9635 ranking points.
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Djokovic is guaranteed to hold World No. 1 for at least 86 consecutive weeks during his current stint. His longest stay atop the standings lasted 122 weeks, from 7 July 2014 through 6 November 2016.
The last player outside the Big 4 who has held No. 1 was Andy Roddick on 1 February 2004.
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If the Russian wins the Mexico Open, on 28 February he will become the 27th player and the third Russian to reach the top spot.
Djokovic, who at that point will have reigned for a record 361 weeks, cannot do anything to stop Medvedev should the Russian lift the trophy.
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The Serbian is also competing the week of 21 February in the Dubai Open.
Here are other scenarios in which Medvedev can reach No. 1 following Acapulco without winning the title:
- Medvedev wins the Acapulco title, regardless of Djokovic’s results in Dubai
- Medvedev reaches the Acapulco final and Djokovic does not win the Dubai title
- Medvedev reaches the Acapulco semi-finals and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai final
- Medvedev reaches the Acapulco quarter-finals and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai semi-finals
- Medvedev reaches the second round in Acapulco and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai semi-finals
- Medvedev loses in the first round in Acapulco and Djokovic does not reach the Dubai quarter-finals
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