Daniil Medvedev calls for tennis rule change after controversy in his defeat to Jannik Sinner in Rome

Daniil Medvedev lost to Jannik Sinner in the Italian Open semi-final on Saturday, May 16, 2026, following a rain delay that split the match across two days. During the third set on Friday, Sinner called for a medical time-out, which Medvedev contested to the umpire, alleging it was for cramps — a condition for which treatment is prohibited under current rules. In his post-match press conference, Medvedev proposed a rule change that would allow physiotherapy treatment specifically for cramps, arguing it would eliminate the controversy surrounding such situations.