Over the years, Rafael Nadal has always proposed some interesting and sometimes questionable changes in the tennis format. The desire to play ATP Finals on clay, more tournaments on clay and having a shorter calendar. Speaking on this last topic in his press conference at Montreal, the world no.

2 said there should be a two-year ranking system that would allow players to span their performances over a two year period. 'I repeat the same. Roger is 35, 36, I’m 31, Stan is 32 maybe, Novak is 30. We’re not 21 or 22 anymore.

The generation before us, most of them at that age had already retired,' Nadal said. 'I said in the past it [the schedule] didn’t work but it will be better to manage the schedule — to have a better schedule — to have a ranking for two years.

Two-year ranking, not one-year ranking. That’s going to protect the players and help the players to have periods to find windows for rest. Having a one-year ranking, it’s always that if you want to be in a good position in the ranking, you cannot rest much.

If you are Federer, Novak or even myself and Andy, we are able to manage it that when we come back we have been winning lots of matches, then you can do it. But in general terms, with injuries and being older, it doesn’t help a lot.

The schedule is the same, the only thing is that players are playing longer and when you are getting older, you need to find periods [of rest] because mentally, physically, you need it.' ALSO READ: Roger Federer: 'It was a joy to watch Shapovalov against Nadal'