Daniil Medvedev has given his verdict on the controversy that saw Denis Shapovalov defaulted from his quarter-final match at the Citi Open last week.
Shapovalov was disqualified in Washington during the latter stages of the second set against Ben Shelton for allegedly directing foul language at a spectator.
The Canadian has since won the appeal and had his points and prize money reinstated, but questions still loom over the way the ATP handled the situation.
Medvedev, who kickstarts his campaign at the Montreal Open on Thursday, is the latest star to come out in support of Shapovalov.
The world number five offered his opinion on what the ATP needs to do moving forward to make the tour a more habitable place for players and spectators alike.
Daniil Medvedev demands clarity from the ATP
In his pre-tournament press conference, Daniil Medvedev claimed that he was ‘super surprised’ to see Shapovalov defaulted and has pleaded for clarity in the ATP rulebook.
The Russian said: “There are a lot of rules in tennis that are on the edge. I find that, at the moment, the ATP is doing good things, and also less good things, but I have the impression that they don’t know where they are going.
“If they [the ATP] want everyone around to move and talk, as they have done a trial for this, the players should also be more expressive.
“They want to be a bit more like Formula One or football, so in this case you can’t demand the players to be like a robot and remain calm, and then around them have a circus and a show. You can’t demand that.
“So, effectively they must do something so that it is more clear for the players and the spectators, what we can and can’t do, because with Denis’ disqualification, it’s not clear what we should do.”
Can Medvedev claim first title of 2024 in Canada?
Daniil Medvedev has found success on the hard courts of North America in the past, having claimed both the Canadian Open and US Open crowns in 2021.
However, the 28-year-old has appeared to lose momentum with the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz soaring to dizzying heights in the sport.
Medvedev won’t worry too much this time around, though, as Alcaraz has opted to skip the Masters event this week, while Sinner might have his plate full after the success he is achieving with partner Jack Draper on the doubles court.
The number three seed could capitalize on the fitness levels of the Italian if they are to meet at the projected quarter-final stage.
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