Daniil Medvedev, Russian’s latest hit sparks debate

Daniil Medvedev, a tennis player who has always been unabashedly outspoken, has reignited a discussion that cyclically runs through professional tennis, that concerning the sustainability of the calendar. The Russian, as reported by Reuters, has put forward a radical proposal that has already begun to spark discussion among players, tournament organizers and insiders. According to Medvedev, in fact, the’only way to meet the physical and logistical needs of tennis players would be to limit the allocation of points only after Slams and Masters 1000.

The concept expressed by Medvedev, in summary, is this: if ranking-determining points came only from major tournaments, players would no longer have the need to participate in the ATP 500 and 250, exposing themselves less to physical and mental attrition. The 1996-class tennis player himself, however, is aware that the revolution he advocates is very difficult: “It would be the’only way to make the Tour sustainable but it will never happen because there are economic agreements, even major ones, between tournament organizers and the’ATP”.

Francesco Lucivero

“Those who organize will never say: ‘OK, it’s time to step back’ – Medvedev admitted again -. A lot of money would be lost and we are talking about a big business. I think as long as I am on the court the situation is bound to remain the same”. For the Russian, however, the problem of calendar overload remains: “Last year I played seven tournaments in a row. Was it mandatory? No. I had started the season badly and had thought: ‘Maybe here I can do 100 points, there 200…’. If there were no points, the decision would be easier”.

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Medvedev&#8217s proposal touches some raw nerves, however: top players are playing more and more tournaments in a calendar that, in fact, leaves barely a month&#8217s break between its conclusion (the ATP Finals and Davis Cup in November) and the start of the new season, in Australia, in January. This is not the first time the Russian, in fact, has spoken out on the subject.

As he himself has admitted, however, the situation is unlikely to change, at least anytime soon. Medvedev’s words, in any case, were enough to reopen the debate on the sustainability of the calendar. A debate destined to continue in the coming months, as the tennis season becomes more and more packed with major events.