Medvedev: "We would accept earning less money in exchange for a shorter season"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 22 May 2026 | 16.43

Daniil Medvedev speaks at Roland Garros 2026. Photo: gettyimages

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Daniil Medvedev appeared at the Roland Garros Media Day, delivering one of the most interesting press conferences of the day. The Russian spoke about the extreme difficulty of facing Jannik Sinner at present, reflected on the impact of Carlos Alcaraz's absence in the tournament, and also expressed his support for the players' protests regarding economic distribution.

As if that weren't enough, Daniil Medvedev delved into the physical wear and tear of the current calendar and how the constant demands of the tour are increasingly affecting the top players in the world of tennis. He also expressed admiration towards Novak Djokovic and shared his expectations for this Roland Garros 2026, the only Grand Slam where he has not been a semifinalist.

Here's how Daniil Medvedev's Media Day went at Roland Garros 2026

Medvedev explains what makes it so difficult to defeat Sinner

"It is extremely difficult to play against Jannik right now. To beat him, you need to be at your best level for three, four, or even five sets. You have to run, serve well, return well, and do absolutely everything perfectly because he does everything at the highest level. In Rome, I managed to do it especially well during the second set, but in the third, I had a slightly weak game with my serve, and I lost the match by just one break. Against him, any slight drop in performance costs you a lot."

Sinner's mental and tactical strength

"The big difference with Jannik is that he can change the pace of the exchange at any moment. In backhand rallies, he can suddenly accelerate parallelly and practically turn it into a winner every time."

"He is also incredibly fast in covering the court. You try to move him or surprise him, and he never seems off balance. It is very difficult to play against him, but at the same time, I enjoy that challenge because I always feel like I have to find a better way to compete."

His reaction to Alcaraz's absence

"Right now, Carlos's absence doesn't change my approach to Roland Garros much because I have never reached the semifinals here, and I need to take it step by step. Maybe if I were already in the semifinals or the final, I would think that the draw is a bit more open. I hope he returns as soon as possible. We love seeing him both in the locker room and on the court. Tennis needs players like him."

Medvedev's support for the players' protest

"Players don't want to harm anyone. We just want to sit down and talk to the Grand Slams because we feel they are not very willing to listen to us. We are trying to take steps to have that conversation. The positive thing is that it is probably the first time in many years that players are really united on this issue. We want our voice to be heard."

The importance of improving the schedule and protecting the players

"The schedule is very tough. If you play until the end of the season, you practically can't rest. You take three weeks off, and you already compromise your preparation for Australia, and no one wants to sacrifice a Grand Slam. I believe that if one day the tour manages to slightly reduce the duration of the season, even if that means fewer tournaments or even less money, many players would accept that change because it would help a lot physically and probably reduce injuries."

His assessment of Novak Djokovic and the players' movement

"Each player can make their own decisions, and that is the best. Novak has always been very active in defending the players, and I am sure he supports the message, although maybe not exactly this specific part related to the media. I have a lot of respect for him, and I am convinced that he continues to support the players and the tour."

The words of Daniil Medvedev at Roland Garros 2026 Media Day perfectly reflect the current state of men's tennis: the increasing dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on the tour and, at the same time, the growing discontent among players with the economic and physical structure of the professional calendar.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev: "Aceptaríamos ganar menos dinero a cambio de una temporada más corta"