Daniil Medvedev has spoken in defence of extending Masters and WTA 1000 events
Daniil Medvedev has defended the extension of multiple Masters and WTA 1000 events, claiming the format brings “more importance” to such events.
World No 4 Medvedev retired injured at the Madrid Open on Wednesday, trailing by a set to Jiri Lehecka when he was forced to call it quits.
Injuries have been a key talking point in Madrid this fortnight, with top Jannik Sinner pulling out of his quarter-final due to injury.
Several players, including WTA world No 4 Elena Rybakina and Medvedev’s compatriot Andrey Rublev, have pointed criticism towards the extended format of Madrid as a potential reason as to why players may be struggling physically.
Previously one-week events, the tournaments in Madrid and Rome are now 12-day events, copying the format used successfully in Indian Wells and Miami.
The format change has proven largely unpopular, though the Canada Open and Cincinnati Masters are also set to adopt it.
But speaking after his retirement in Madrid, Medvedev shut down any suggestion his injury had been caused by the extended tournament – and conceded he was in favour of the change.
“Injuries are part of the sport,” said Medvedev.
“For sure the better you play, the more matches you play, the more risk you have of getting tired in your body, and when you get tired, having injuries.”
“The turnarounds between surfaces is fast. If you play good in Miami, you have maybe four, five days before Monte-Carlo to practice on clay.
“I like this two-week format. I mean, it’s not two weeks. It’s one-and-a-half. I like it when there is a day off.
“In my opinion, it brings more importance because then you kind of know if you want to do well on the Tour, you kind of have to play these Masters.
“The other tournaments you have to choose wisely because if you play good at a two-week Masters, there are not many weeks where you can add the tournaments.
“I like it, and I don’t think injuries would come from this format.”
The debate is likely to rumble on for some time, particularly with the Italian Open starting just two days after action in Madrid concludes.
Medvedev may face a race against time to recover his fitness by next week, where he will be looking to defend his title.
The former world No 1 won his first – and to date, only – clay court title in Rome 12 months ago, defeating Holger Rune in the final.
Fitness doubts also swirl around world No 2 Sinner and world No 3 Carlos Alcaraz heading into the event, while Novak Djokovic is set to return after skipping action in the Spanish capital.
