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Novak Djokovic reacts after losing No. 1 ranking

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 2/24/22

Novak Djokovic reacted on Twitter Thursday after losing the No. 1 ranking in tennis.

Djokovic lost to Jiri Vesely 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships on Thursday. The loss will knock Djokovic out of the ATP top spot and bump up Daniil Medvedev, who beat Djokovic at the 2021 US Open.

Djokovic was gracious, congratulating Vesely on the win, and Medvedev on dethroning him.

Congratulations also to a very deserving @DaniilMedwed, who will now become world number 1.

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) February 24, 2022

Djokovic had held the No. 1 ranking since Feb. 23, 2020 but will move down to No. 2 when the new rankings come out on Monday.

Medvedev, who is currently playing in the Mexican Open, is breaking apart the reign of the “Big Four.” He will become the first player outside the group of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to hold the No. 1 ranking since 2004.

Djokovic’s 361 consecutive weeks atop the rankings are the most since the computer system began in 1973. His lengthy streak was aided in part by the COVID-related shutdowns of tennis tournaments, and also his grand slam pursuit in 2021.

Interestingly, Vesely is 2-0 in his career against Djokovic.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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