Daniil Medvedev has conceded that the only way to fix the relentless tennis schedule would be to “get rid of” some of the smaller tournaments that players and fans love – though he knows that’s not going to happen. Players have become increasingly vocal about the demanding nature of the professional tours.

On the women’s side, the WTA Chair, Valerie Camillo, recently announced the launch of a new council which will recommend improvements to the tour framework. The council will be headed up by world No. 5 Jessica Pegula. As for the ATP Tour, Medvedev believes nothing will change unless they start removing some non-mandatory events from the calendar, even though he “loves” the smaller tournaments.

Speaking in Dubai, where he is a former champion, the former world No. 1 said: “I would think the players would agree, from what I’m hearing, to making more let’s say even more mandatory tournaments. Because now it’s what? Nine, probably four Grand Slams.

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“Make it a bit more, like get rid of the other ones. I love them. That’s the only way to make the tour shorter. It’s never going to happen because there are licenses, and basically ATP won’t have enough money to buy all of them. The other tournaments, they won’t say, Yeah, okay, we’re out, because they would lose the money. It’s business.

“I think right now with how the ATP Tour [is], it’s never going to change, at least while I’m playing, many other guys. But in general, yeah, I would say make four Grand Slams, I don’t know, 11 Masters, and that’s it. The other tournaments, maybe make them without points or something. Not like exhibitions, but without points or something.”

Even outside of the mandatory events, players have their own reasons for packing out their schedule. Those ranked lower often need to make a living and to get their ranking up. Towards the end of the season, top-ranked players are also fighting for spots at the season-ending ATP Finals – something Holger Rune was doing last year when he ruptured his left Achilles tendon on court in Stockholm and retired in tears.

The Danish star has not played since, and Medvedev explained that it was the perfect example of players needing to compete outside of the mandatory events. He continued: “Because what happens is last year, like, Holger got injured in Stockholm, everybody was like, Yeah, but you don’t have to play it. If he wants to be in Turin, he has to, even if it’s not a mandatory tournament. That is where it is borderline. Players don’t even know.

“Last year I played in seven tournaments in a row. Did I have to? No. I played bad in the beginning of the year, maybe I can get 100 points here, 200 points here, be higher seeded next year, et cetera, et cetera. If there would be no points there, at least it is an easier decision. But it’s not going to happen.”

Medvedev himself is chasing his own ranking goals after falling outside of the world’s top 10 and says that removing ranking points from smaller tournaments would at least eliminate the need for him and his colleagues to enter the events to chase points.

“For other players, like me right now, in the situation I’m in, like 11 in the world or something, it’s always a bit like, Yeah, maybe I have to play this tournament, win some points. Maybe I can be No. 8 in the next Grand Slam or whatever. I’m not playing as well as before, so maybe I can get my form up here,” he explained.

“Again, if there would not be tournaments, at least I would not this have the choice. I think maybe [Brandon] Nakashima played the most tournaments last year. You can play, what, 35 weeks on tour. I don’t think you should have this possibility.”

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