Russian out to regain top spot

Miami – Daniil Medvedev will try to reclaim the world No 1 ranking and top seed Aryna Sabalenka chases her first final in 10 months at the ATP/WTA Miami Open.

Men’s play starts today and women’s play began yesterday in the hardcourt tournament at Hard Rock Stadium, where highest seeds receive first-round byes.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic moved into the top spot of the rankings this week, bumping out reigning US Open champion Medvedev (above) after a three-week stay following his third-round exit at Indian Wells.

The 26-year-old Russian, runner-up at the past two Australian Opens, would return to the top with a semifinal run at Miami.

Medvedev only reached his first Miami quarterfinal last year, when he lost to Roberto Bautista Agut, so a last-four spot would mark a best-ever run in Miami.

And Medvedev has a potential second-round matchup with former world No 1 Andy Murray, provided the Briton gets past Argentina’s Federico Delbonis.

Murray, a 34-year-old Scotsman and three-time Grand Slam champion, won the Miami crown in 2009 and 2013 but lost his only meeting with Medvedev in Brisbane in 2019.

Also in Medvedev’s quarter of the draw is defending champion Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev is the second seed with Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas third and Italy’s Matteo Berrettini fourth.

Australia’s top-ranked Ashleigh Barty is not in the field, but former world No 1s Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep are in the draw.

Romania’s Halep could face Britain’s 19-year-old Emma Raducanu, the reigning US Open champion, in the third round.

Japan’s Osaka could meet Canada’s 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up who ended Osaka’s title defense last year at New York, in the third round.