He will not have remained long on the highest step. Daniil Medvedev, who took his place as the new world number one in tennis on Monday March 14 at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells (United States), fell in the third round of the Californian tournament against Frenchman Gaël Monfils (6, 6- 3, 6-1).
Result: the Russian, who has never made it past the round of 16 in Indian Wells, will hand over the keys next Monday to Serbian Novak Djokovic, absent from California because not vaccinated against covid and in fact not authorized to go to the United States.
Facing Medvedev, Gaël Monfils bravely played his luck despite losing the first set, during which his opponent then seemed well settled in defense, returning almost all the balls.
But the Parisian increased in intensity in the second set, while changing pace with volleys, drop shots and even underhand serves, the second pushing the Russian to a fault, to equalize at one set everywhere.
Gaël Monfils continued to take the lead by varying his shots, while his rival, guilty of yet another unforced error, which he is not used to, smashed his racquet on the ground, receiving a warning.
After 2:07 of play, the French offered the second victory of his career over a world number one, after that won in 2009 against Rafael Nadal. He will face in the round of 16 another Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz.
