There is a genuine possibility that we see women play best-of-five-set matches at Grand Slams next year.
During finals weekend at the Australian Open, tournament director Craig Tiley shared his thoughts on women playing best-of-five-set matches.
“One of the things I’ve been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women,” said Tiley.
Which WTA player would benefit the most from playing best-of-five sets?
“We should look at the last few matches – the quarters and the semis and the finals – and make the women’s side three out of five.
“So it’s something we should put on the agenda and start talking to the players about it because there are some matches in those last rounds which would have been fascinating had they been three out of five sets.
“Now I don’t know whether the players would want to do it or not, but it is something we need to consider on the women’s side.
“If we’re going to do it and we think it’s the right thing, we’ll definitely go in 2027.”
Tiley is interested in women playing best-of-five, but not everyone is a fan of the idea.
Former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov has spoken out against the proposed rule change.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov says five-set matches would be ‘too much’ for women
During the latest episode of ‘Hard Court‘, Kafelnikov delivered his verdict on Tiley’s proposal (translated from Russian).
“There have already been precedents, like the WTA Finals in New York, Steffi Graf played Gabriela Sabatini there,” he said.
WTA Finals (Best-of-five-set matches)
| Final | Winner | Loser | Score | Sets |
| 1984 WTA Finals | Martina Navratilova | Chris Evert | 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 | 3 |
| 1985 WTA Finals | Martina Navratilova | Helena Sukova | 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 | 3 |
| 1986 WTA Finals (March) | Martina Navratilova | Hana Mandlikova | 6-2, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 | 4 |
| 1986 WTA Finals (November) | Martina Navratilova | Steffi Graf | 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 | 3 |
| 1987 WTA Finals | Steffi Graf | Gabriela Sabatini | 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 | 4 |
| 1988 WTA Finals | Gabriela Sabatini | Pam Shriver | 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 | 3 |
| 1989 WTA Finals | Steffi Graf | Martina Navratilova | 6-4, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 | 4 |
| 1990 WTA Finals | Monica Seles | Gabriela Sabatini | 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 | 5 |
| 1991 WTA Finals | Monica Seles | Martina Navratilova | 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 | 4 |
| 1992 WTA Finals | Monica Seles | Martina Navratilova | 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 | 3 |
| 1993 WTA Finals | Steffi Graf | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 | 4 |
| 1994 WTA Finals | Gabriela Sabatini | Lindsay Davenport | 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 | 3 |
| 1995 WTA Finals | Steffi Graf | Anke Huber | 6-1, 2-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 | 5 |
| 1996 WTA Finals | Steffi Graf | Martina Hingis | 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 | 5 |
| 1997 WTA Finals | Jana Novotna | Mary Pierce | 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 | 3 |
| 1998 WTA Finals | Martina Hingis | Lindsay Davenport | 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 | 4 |
“Then, everyone decided that it was wrong to torment the female sex to such an extent.
“No need to do it.”
Kafelnikov thinks best-of-three-set matches suffice, having seen several entertaining contests at the Australian Open.
“We already witnessed a two-hour battle between [Elena] Rybakina and [Aryna] Sabalenka in the final,” he said.
How many Grand Slam titles does Elena Rybakina win in her career?
“There were some great matches where the girls really played to the point of exhaustion, giving it their all.
“So, I think five-set matches would be too much.”
The two-time Grand Slam champion shared his concerns about how long women would take between sets.
“Can you imagine after each set, the girls will go to change a T-shirt here, to change there, and so on,” said Kafelnikov.
“That will add another half an hour, roughly speaking.”
Kafelnikov doesn’t want to see the rule change, but what has everyone else been saying?
Players are split on the introduction of best-of-five sets for women
Several WTA stars, past and present, have shared their thoughts, some of whom oppose the introduction of the longer format.
“I don’t think I would sign up to do more,” said Madison Keys on ‘The Player’s Box Podcast‘.
“I also feel like prize money would have to go up. I think if they are going to make a drastic decision like that, it’s going to totally change the entire women’s Grand Slam format, then I think there needs to be something to balance that out,” added Jessica Pegula.
Others welcome the change, including American youngster Iva Jovic, who said this during an interview with the ‘Tennis Channel‘.
“I know a couple of the girls were already giving some negative feedback,” said Jovic.
“For me, if that is the decision that is going to be made, I welcome it with open arms. I think I am very fit, and I like the marathon mentality.
“I’m here for it. I am ready to adjust. It will be interesting. I am definitely not opposed.”
Former world number one Kim Clijsters also shared her support for the idea in the latest episode of the ‘Love All‘ podcast.
“The five-setter, when I heard him say that, I was like, I kind of like that idea!” said Clijsters.
“I think I would have liked it as a player. I think I would have really enjoyed the challenge and the physical challenge of it, as well as the mental challenge that comes with that.
“There are a few players who have come out against it, but I would have loved to have seen a fourth or a fifth set in the women’s final.”
Only time will tell if we will see women play best-of-five-set matches in 2027, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.
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