Novak Djokovic still world No. 1 even if Daniil Medvedev secures Australian Open title - John McEnroe

John McEnroe has insisted Novak Djokovic is the world’s No. 1 tennis player, even if he is dislodged by Daniil Medvedev. With Djokovic absent from the Australian Open, he will lose all the points he gained when he won the final 12 months ago.

Ad/> If Medvedev wins two more matches in Melbourne, he will ascend to the top of the men’s tree next month. Australian Open'It would be unbelievable' — McEnroe assesses prospect of Federer winning again10 HOURS AGO Kyrgios hits back at 'salty, ridiculous' player for calling him 'an absolute k***' Nadal a phenomenal, freak individual but McEnroe worried about toll on body He made his Grand Slam breakthrough when winning the US Open final last year, but McEnroe says the only time the rankings matter is at the end of the year — and that Djokovic is clearly the best player in the game. «Let me put it a little perspective, it's a long year,” McEnroe said.

“I think what really matters when you become No. 1 and it's still a great honour whenever it happens, it's who's No. 1 at the end of the year.

»The final rankings before, when all four majors are played, when all the tournaments have been played, this is the very beginning of the year and it's still an amazing accomplishment, but you're not going to sit there and tell me that Djokovic who was No. 1, had three of the last four majors and was in the final of the US Open, isn't the No. 1 player in the world — that's ludicrous.

“And because of the unfortunate fact that he didn't play here, he's losing all the points he got that he won from the Australian Open. So that's just why that happens.” While McEnroe feels Djokovic is the top player at present, he is impressed with how Medvedev has improved his game. “You gotta love the way he plays