Former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev (RUS, 5) believes 18-year-old Indian Manas Dhamne (IND, 393) is on the right developmental trajectory on the ATP Tour. Speaking to senior tennis journalist Prajwal Hegde of The Times of India, Medvedev emphasized that incremental week-by-week improvement is the defining benchmark for a teenager transitioning to the professional circuit, pointing to 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar (ESP, 11) and his surge from 165 at the start of 2026 to 11 this week as proof of how rapidly a young player’s rise can accelerate.
Source: Prajwal Hegde · The Times of India ↗Having observed Dhamne (IND, 393) up close at the Piatti Tennis Center in Bordighera, Italy, Medvedev (RUS, 5) highlighted in his interaction with Prajwal Hegde for The Times of India that avoiding ranking stagnation during the teenage transition years is the most critical challenge for a young prospect.
“Once you drop in the rankings or stay at the same ranking, it can get a bit tough, especially when you’re a junior. So it’s always about a tiny bit of improvement. I feel like, from what I see from him, he is. That’s the most important thing. He’s a good player.”
As reported by Prajwal Hegde in The Times of India, Medvedev (RUS, 5) underscored the unpredictable nature of young player development by citing 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar (ESP, 11). Jodar opened the 2026 season ranked 165 and climbed 154 spots to reach a career-high 11 this week, demonstrating how quickly a player’s fortunes can shift once the right pieces click on tour.
“If you asked me about Jodar last year, I would say, great player, can be top 100, top 50, top 10, but you never know. This is up to many, many things. Let’s see if he’s (Dhamne) able to do it.”
At 18, Dhamne (IND, 393) has already assembled key milestones in 2026, breaking through to his 1st ATP Challenger singles final as a qualifier at Shymkent 2 in May 2026 and climbing to a career-high singles ranking of 362 earlier this season.
| Player | Age | Current Rank | 2026 Milestone & Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniil Medvedev (RUS, 5) | 30 | 5 | Former World No. 1 & 20-time tour-level singles champion |
| Rafael Jodar (ESP, 11) | 20 | 11 (Career High) | Began 2026 ranked 165; surged +154 spots to 11 this week |
| Manas Dhamne (IND, 393) | 18 | 393 (CH 362) | Reached 1st ATP Challenger final at 2026 Shymkent 2; trains at Piatti Tennis Center |