Novak Djokovic remains world No 1 after Daniil Medvedev struggles in Miami

Rusian loses to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz at Hard Rock Stadium

Novak Djokovic won his opening match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship against Lorenzo Musetti on Monday, February 21, 2022. AFP

Novak Djokovic fans celebrate after he beat Lorenzo Musetti at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. AP

Novak Djokovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti on his comeback to tennis. AP

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, right, cheers Italy's Lorenzo Musetti end their match during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Djokovic winning in two sets. (AP Photo / Kamran Jebreili)

Novak Djokovic was playing his first match since the Australian Open visa row. AFP

Novak Djokovic against Lorenzo at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. EPA

Novak Djokovic at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. EPA

Novak Djokovic retained the world No 1 ranking after Daniil Medvedev struggled physically to lose to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 at the Miami Open.

Medvedev had dropped to second with a third-round loss to Gael Monfils at Indian Wells last week, but would have taken back the top spot from Serbian great Djokovic had he defeated Hurkacz, who is the defending Miami Open champion.

Instead, it was the 10th-ranked Hurkacz who advanced to the semi-finals by defeating the reigning US Open champion at Hard Rock Stadium, which allowed 20-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic to stay as No 1.

Medvedev said he found it hard to breathe at times and was cramping badly in the locker room.

"All match, I wasn't feeling my best," Medvedev said. "After the tough points I was struggling to get my breath. I wasn't recovering fast enough. You just have to fight but in the second set I felt strange.

Daniil Medvedev struggled in the Miami heat. AFP

"I don't often feel like this but it happens sometimes when it's hot. Maybe it was the heat but I was feeling dizzy and tired and there was one game where I couldn't serve anymore. In the locker room I was cramping."

Medvedev called for medical trainers in the second set.

"The physio gave me something," the Russian said. "You never know. You're hoping it will be like a magic thing but it doesn't always work like this."

Defending champion Hurkacz won the first three games and fended off two break points in the seventh as Medvedev struggled with his serve and had four double faults in the first set.

The Russian saved two set points to hold serve in the eighth game and broke in the ninth, but the Pole kept his nerve in the tiebreak.

In the second set, Hurkacz broke at the sixth attempt in an 11-minute fifth game as the sweltering heat seemed to get the better of Medvedev.