Medvedev calls for a rethink of the ranking system to ease the burden on players

Daniil Medvedev has called for a streamlined Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) calendar, with only Grand Slams and Masters 1000 tournaments awarding ranking points, although the Russian admits such reforms would be difficult to implement.

Top players are required to compete in the four Majors and eight Masters events, with the world rankings split reduced from 19 to 18 tournaments in 2026 after the men’s body withdrew an ATP 500 commitment.

World number 11 Medvedev said if smaller events did not count towards the rankings it would ease pressure on players, who have criticized the 11-month calendar.

“That’s the only way to make the tour shorter,” Medvedev said. ‘That will never happen because there are licenses and the ATP will not have enough money to buy them all.

“The other tournaments aren’t going to say, ‘Okay, we’re out,’ because they would lose money. It’s business. At this point it will never change what the ATP Tour is like, at least not as long as I play.”

‘Make it four Grand Slams, eleven Masters. They might pass the others without any points.’ Reuters has contacted the ATP for comment. ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi defended the calendar in October, saying the scheduling remains the players’ choice.

Medvedev said players have pushed themselves too hard to be among the top eight to make it to the ATP Finals in Turin. He pointed to Holger Rune, who tore his Achilles tendon in an ATP 250 event in October.

“Everyone said: ‘Yes, but you don’t have to play it’, but if he wants to be in Turin he has to do it, even if it is not a mandatory tournament,” Medvedev said. “Last year I played seven tournaments in a row. Did I have to? No. I played poorly at the beginning of the year, maybe I can get 100 points here, 200. “If there were no points, it’s an easier decision.