Daniil Medvedev has suggested a change to the Tour calendar to help address the length of the season.
The former US Open champion believes the schedule of events should be changed to put more focus on the main events of the sport. These are the nine Masters 1000s and the four Grand Slams. Seven of the nine Masters events will be held over 12 days from next season with Monte Carlo and Paris being the only exceptions.
“This year I only tried to play big tournaments,” Medvedev told reporters at the ATP Finals on Tuesday.
“I think there should be more bigger, important tournaments, which should be like, ‘Okay, these are the tournaments where we define who is going to be top 10, like Masters 1000.’
“You play good in them, you will be there. The schedule should somehow be around them.”
Earlier this week in Turin, Carlos Alcaraz admitted he is struggling with mental tiredness at the end of the 11-month season in which he has played more than 60 matches. He also experienced a similar situation at the end of 2023 when he lost his opening match at the Paris Masters but reached the last four at the ATP Finals.
One of Medvedev’s ideas is to cut the length of the season by playing the big tournaments earlier. Then at the end of the year, there should be ATP 250s staged for those wanting to continue playing.
“You put all the 250s after for people that want to continue playing,” he said.
“If you’re good enough, you finish the season in whatever, October, play in Masters. Doesn’t matter. Don’t count the tournaments after. If you still feel like you need more points for the Australian Open or more matches, you do it after.”
At the ATP Finals, all eight participants has played at least 63 matches in 2024 before the event started. Alexander Zverev had played the most at 86.
