Medvedev makes Wednesday headlines: dismantling Wawrinka and proposing radical ranking reform in Dubai
Daniil Medvedev defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday and will face American Jenson Brooksby next.
Daniil Medvedev, 2026 | © Exxson Mobil Open
Daniil Medvedev dominated the conversation at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday, combining a ruthless on-court performance with a provocative call for a structural overhaul of the ATP ranking system.
The world number 11 advanced to the quarterfinals by dispatching Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, but it was his post-match critique of the 11-month tennis calendar that resonated most deeply with the tennis community.
Medvedev’s assertion that the current points system forces players into a dangerous cycle of physical overextension has reignited a long-standing debate about athlete welfare and tour sustainability.
Clinical Victory Over Stan Wawrinka in Dubai
On the court, Medvedev displayed glimpses of the form that carried him to the world number one ranking. Facing 40-year-old Wawrinka, a former Dubai champion on his farewell tour, Medvedev was clinical from the baseline. He broke the Swiss star’s serve three times in a dominant opening set that lasted just over thirty minutes.
While Wawrinka briefly threatened a resurgence in the second set, even taking a momentary lead (3-2), Medvedev’s defensive consistency proved insurmountable. The Russian closed out the match in 75 minutes, securing his place in the last eight where he will face Jenson Brooksby, who defeated Karen Khachanov. This victory follows a straight-sets win over Juncheng Shang.
Medvedev Proposes “Grand Slam and Masters Only” Points System
The most striking moment of the day occurred in the press room, where Medvedev proposed a radical reduction in the number of tournaments offering ranking points. He argued that the current 18-tournament breakdown compels top players to chase points at smaller ATP 250 and 500 events to secure high seedings or qualify for the year-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
“I would say make four Grand Slams, I don’t know, 11 Masters, and that’s it”, Medvedev said, suggesting that other tournaments should remain as exhibition-style events without ranking implications.
He cited the case of Holger Rune, who ruptured his Achilles at a 250-level event in Stockholm last year while chasing a spot in Turin, as a prime example of the system’s inherent risk. If there would be no points there, at least it is an easier decision to rest, Medvedev added.
A Growing Chorus of Players Calling for Calendar Reform
While Medvedev is currently the most vocal proponent of this specific point-stripping model, he is far from the only elite player to challenge the tour’s structure. Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil, through the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), have been advocating for years against what they describe as a draconian ranking system.
In March 2025, the PTPA launched a lawsuit against tennis’ governing bodies, accusing them of suppressing competition and maintaining an unsustainable 45-week schedule that disregards player welfare.
Similarly, in the women’s game, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have frequently criticized the mandatory nature of the 10-month WTA calendar, with Swiatek recently pulling out of Dubai citing a need for a change of schedule to avoid burnout.
