Medvedev : "Nous accepterions de gagner moins d'argent en échange d'une saison plus courte"

Daniil Medvedev appeared at the Roland Garros Media Day, delivering one of the most interesting press conferences of the day. The Russian talked about the extreme difficulty of facing Jannik Sinner currently, 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 wasn'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 for Novak Djokovic and shared his expectations for this Roland Garros 2026, the only Grand Slam where he has not been a semifinalist.

Here is Daniil Medvedev's Media Day at Roland Garros 2026

Medvedev explains what makes defeating Sinner so challenging

"It is extremely hard 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 in the second set, but in the third, I had a bit of a weak game with my serve and lost the match by just one break. Against him, any slight drop in level costs a lot."

Sinner's mental and tactical strength

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

"Moreover, he is incredibly quick at covering the court. You try to move him or surprise him, and it seems like he is never caught off guard. It's very complicated to play against him, although at the same time, I enjoy that challenge because I always feel like I have to find a better way to compete."

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His reaction to Alcaraz's absence

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

Medvedev's support for players' protest

"As players, we don't want to harm anyone. We just want to sit down and talk with 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 the players really stand united on this issue. We want our voice to be heard."

The importance of improving the calendar and protecting players

"The calendar 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 think 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's the best part. Novak has always been very active in defending the players, and I'm sure he supports the message, though maybe not exactly this particular part related to the media. I have a lot of respect for him and 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 growing dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on the tour and, at the same time, the increasing discontent of the players with the economic and physical structure of the professional calendar.

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