WTA stars split over proposed five-set matches at Grand Slams
The best players in women's tennis may join the men in playing five-set matches at Grand Slams.
Several of the biggest names in women's tennis have weighed in on a radical proposal that would see the best players compete across five sets.
For years, tennis fans and athletes have questioned if women should one day join men's players in competing in best-of-five set matches as opposed to the current format that sees them play a maximum of three sets.
The idea has always been met with both critics and supporters, with many pointing out the radical differences between competing across three or five sets.
Recently, the idea re-emerged as Australian Open boss Craig Tiley suggested that women may be asked to play five-set matches from the quarter-finals onwards as soon as next year.
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As expected, the radical proposal has once again split opinions, with the top players from across women's tennis offering their views ahead of competing at Indian Wells this week.
Tiley, has long been credited for being a major voice for change in tennis, claimed that women would benefit from playing five sets as research has shown that interest grows as a match goes on.
However, six-time major winner Iga Swiatek believes that the change would have the opposite effect, suggesting that making a match longer in a world with short attention spans would turn fans away.
"It's a weird approach in the world where everything is becoming faster," she told reporters ahead of competing at the the WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells.
"So I don't know if the audience honestly would like that. I don't know if we would be able to keep the quality for five sets. Men are more physically strong and they can handle it better," she added.
"Also, we have never practiced in a way to prepare for that, so we would need to change our whole calendar, because the Grand Slams would be so tough that I don't think we would have time to prepare for any other tournaments."
Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina agreed with Swiatek, claiming that the change would have a significant mental impact on women's tennis players.
She claimed: "You start in one format, and then it gets longer, so mentally, to be ready to play so many sets if it goes to that point, I think it's not easy.
"It's a tricky topic, and me, as a player, I would say I wouldn't want to play three out of five, to be honest."
However, women's no.1 Aryna Sabalenka was not only comfortable with the idea of playing five sets, but was clearly eager to see the change implemented.
"Yeah, let's do that," she said when asked about the proposal.
"I feel like I would have probably more Grand Slams. I feel like physically I'm really strong, and I'm pretty confident that my body can handle that. So let's do it."
Meanwhile Coco Gauff agreed that such a change would benefit her game, but questioned the proposal to only implement the change for players who make it to the quarter-finals or further.
"It probably would favour me because I'm physically up there with the best," claimed Gauff.
"But I probably wouldn't want to see that happen, and if it were to happen, I would prefer it to be the whole tournament, not just the quarters."
As it stands, it is unclear if the change will be in place for the Australian Open in January next year, or if it could even be introduced even sooner at the other tennis majors this year.
Topics: Tennis, Australian Open
Ben McCrum