Medvedev calls for ranking system rethink to ease burden on players

Medvedev advocates for a reformed ATP ranking system to reduce player pressure by limiting points to Grand Slams and Masters events.

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

Top players ​are obligated to compete in the ⁠four majors and eight Masters events, with the world rankings breakdown reduced from 19 to 18 tournaments in 2026 after ‌the men's body removed an ATP 500 commitment.

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

"That's the only way to make the tour shorter," Medvedev said. "It's never going to happen because there are ​licenses, and the ATP ‌won't have enough money to buy all of them.

"The other tournaments won't say, 'OK, we're out' because they would lose money. It's business. Right now with ‌how the ATP Tour is, it's never going ​to change, at least while I'm playing.

"Make it four Grand Slams, 11 Masters. The ⁠others, maybe make them without points." Reuters has contacted the ATP for comment. ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi defended the calendar ‌in October, saying scheduling remained the players' choice.