Daniil Medvedev believes the majority of players would be happy to earn less on the Tour if they have a longer off-season to help address concerns over injury and burnout.
The former world No.1 is among numerous figures in the sport who have called for the calendar to be reduced. As it currently stands, the ATP Tour season begins during the first week in January and concludes with the year-end Finals in November. Players usually have a month or just over off the circuit before starting the next season. However, many use the off-season for training blocks and to compete in exhibition events.
The calendar topic has been brought back into the limelight with Carlos Alcaraz currently sidelined by a wrist injury that has forced him to withdraw from both the French Open and Wimbledon. Speaking to reporters at the French Open, Medvedev said he was unable to speak specifically about his peer’s situation as he doesn’t know the full details of his wrist injury. However, he points out the problem players face in trying to have time off.
“If someone wants to, after the season, take maybe three weeks off, it’s not possible,” Medvedev explains during his pre-tournament French Open press conference.
“If you play in Turin (ATP Finals) especially and you take three weeks off, you basically sacrifice the Australian Open, and no one wants to sacrifice a slam.”
Medvedev believes the Tour calendar will eventually be shortened, but adds he believes ‘it will probably not be done in the next five years.’
“I think this could help a lot of players in general,” he argues.
“I’m pretty sure that even if it means getting less money because there are less tournaments, I’m pretty sure most of the players would agree.
“That’s the talk in the locker room, but again, it’s a long discussion. It’s the only thing where I could see it could maybe reduce some injuries.”
After a nightmare start to his clay swing this year with a 6-0, 6-0 loss in Monte Carlo to Matteo Berrettini, Medvedev has managed to regain some momentum. He reached the quarter-finals in Madrid and the semi-finals in Rome before losing to Jannik Sinner in three close sets.
Can he produce a deep run in Paris too?
“It’s not always my best tournament, but I did manage to get a couple of good results here and there,” Medvedev said of his mixed record at the French Open.
“That’s what I’m going to try to do again this year, try to push for a better result.”
Medvedev reached the quarter-finals at the French Open in 2021. Since then has suffered two first round losses and two runs to the last 16.
In this year’s tournament, he plays Australia’s Adam Walton in the first round.
