Zverev vouches for best-of-five-sets format, says no one wants reduction

Two-time Grand Slam champion Alexander Zverev has backed tennis’ best-of-five-sets format amid discussions on shortening match lengths in opening rounds of the four Grand Slams. | Photo Credit: AP

Alexander Zverev has openly dismissed calls to reduce the men’s Grand Slam matches from a best-of-five-sets format to three, insisting that the current format is central to the sport’s identity.

The issue has taken the tennis world by storm after the chief executive of the Australian Open organising body recently suggested that the four majors consider cutting early-round matches to a best-of-three-sets format.

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Those in favour of the suggestion believe best-of-three encounters would appeal to a younger audience, increase the viewership from that base and prevent gameplay extending late into nights.

Speaking at the China Open, the German put it simply as: “It’s history.”

“It’s the toughest thing to win in our sport because we play best-of-five sets; it’s physically one of the most extreme things that you can go through.”, Zverev observed.

In the midst of this, Zverev’s own US Open victory featured two marathon matches, with his first and second round contests both concluding post-midnight.

“I don’t know a single player who would like to play best-of-three sets,” the 29-year-old said.

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“Maybe Novak (Djokovic) wants to play best-of-three because, of course, he’s getting a bit older now,” he joked, “But I think if you had asked him this 10 years ago or 15 years ago, for sure not.”