Gabriela Sabatini has given her verdict on Aryna Sabalenka’s recent comments about women playing best-of-five set matches.
Sabalenka had previously dismissed ideas of women playing the longer format, claiming that she was ‘not ready’ to do so.
However, the debate was ignited once again earlier this year, as now former Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley suggested women playing best of five sets from the quarterfinals.
Since those comments were made, Sabalenka suggested her mind had changed on playing best-of-five when asked about it at Indian Wells, and now former US Open champion Sabatini has responded.
Gabriela Sabatini gives her verdict on women playing best-of-five set matches
Sabatini actually experienced playing best-of-five set matches, as the final of the WTA Finals included the longer format between 1984 and 1998
The Argentinian mentioned this when asked about Sabalenka’s comments in an interview with Gonzalo Ferreyra, as Sabatini cast doubts over whether it would be possible for women to play best-of-five for a whole tournament.
“Yes, I think this is their decision, isn’t it? They should give their opinion on whether they like the idea or not,” said Sabatini.
“I can tell you that I played, I played twice in the Masters final that was played to five sets. I had to play a five-set match against Monica Seles.
“We played for almost four hours, I think, and it was a spectacular experience because it’s obviously different from what you usually play, but hey, it was just the final, right? That game, I don’t know if it can be done for the whole tournament. That’s perhaps something that the girls have to decide, isn’t it?”
Which WTA player would benefit the most from playing best-of-five sets?
Gabriela Sabatini’s record in best-of-five set matches
Sabatini reached the final of the WTA Finals four times during the period where women would play best-of-five set matches.
The former world number three would have mixed results in the format, which saw her beat Pam Shriver and Lindsay Davenport in straight sets.
However, Sabatini would have more difficulties against Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, who she would lose against in four and five sets, respectively.
| Year | Result |
| 1987 | Steffi Graf beat Sabatini, 4-6 6-4 6-0 6-4 |
| 1988 | Sabatini beat Pam Shriver, 7-5 6-2 6-2 |
| 1990 | Monica Seles beat Sabatini, 6-4 5-7 3-6 6-4 6-2 |
| 1994 | Sabatini beat Lindsay Davenport, 6-3 6-2 6-4 |
The last best-of-five set match featuring women took place at the 1998 WTA Finals, where Martina Hingis beat Davenport in the final.
While there is a lot of debate around the longer format being reintroduced into women’s tennis, there does not appear to be any signs of it happening anytime soon.
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