On Thursday, Pat Cash raised the debate again about women playing best of five sets at Grand Slam tournaments. “I’m all for a five-set final, that’s where it should start”.
I’m totally in agreement.
The 2016 edition of the Australian Open was an extremely underwhelming one on the men’s side, with Novak Djokovic drubbing Roger Federer in the semis before a one-sided final win over Andy Murray, who admitted afterwards that mentally he was halfway back to Britain to attend to his expecting wife.
On the men’s side, the later stages were largely uneventful, and the routine of Djokovic beating Murray in the final had become a predictable sight for viewers over the years.
One match brought a smile to the fans’ faces at the end of the tournament, though, and ensured it ended with a better feeling.
It was the epic women’s final between Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber.
A battle between a legend – someone so accomplished that she is an icon comparable to anyone in any other sport – and a then underachiever, someone who hadn’t made it past a semi final.
Serena usually proved too much for less experienced players on the big stage, and she produced a scintillating display. On the other side, though, Kerber’s determination proved too strong, and the match ended in a thrilling three-set tussle to secure the German her first grand slam title.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Even more terrific was the sports(wo)manship of the occasion, with Serena walking across the net to Kerber’s side at the end of the match and engaging the elated 28-year-old in a long, sincere and heartfelt embrace. The match was a jewel in the two week tournament’s crown.
The only thing this writer regretted was that it wasn’t longer.
Grand slam tennis finals are not events that should merely go for around one to two hours. This isn’t the Big Bash. This is a serious event, one where both players should be tested physically and mentally to their capacity.
All too often, when a nervous and inexperienced female player takes the court in a Slam final, they are beaten within the first fifteen minutes – meaning they will be nervous, drop serve a couple of times, and, within the blink of an eye, be down against a more experienced player 4-1 or 5-2.
First set basically over, and if they drop serve early in the second, they might as well be thinking about the sombre dinner they’ll be having in an hour, packing their luggage and catching the red eye out of Melbourne.
It doesn’t do justice to the players or the fans.
I can totally understand the physical differences between men and women, and therefore have no problem with the first six rounds of the female draw being best of three – indeed plenty of male players have to retire in the earlier rounds due to heat and injuries sustained in the gruelling best of five conditions.
But surely once the final stage is set, once the two remaining players in the draw are standing opposite each other on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday at 7pm, this should be a battle not just of backhand, forehand and serve, but of physical endurance and mental resilience. There is no better way to test this than in a best-of-five match.
Nothing should be left in the tank when playing for a grand slam trophy and $4 million.
This is not a matter of wanting female finalists to ‘work the same amount’ for the same pay, but for the sheer entertainment and enjoyment it would bring the fans. There would be no greater advertisement for women’s tennis and sport.
Surely those in support of women’s tennis don’t want the final to be a mere appetiser to the match the following night- a smaller portion designed to whet the appetite. It should be a separate, but equal showpiece, a counterpoint to the men’s final.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Do it.
me too
Guest
would prefer men and women play 3 sets only - eradicate the tie break if people want longer matches, but for me watching the shorter womens matches.
Maggie
Guest
In regard to the more general issue raised every Australian Open that women should play best of five sets: 1. there is a history of women doing exactly that - from 1984 to 1998 in the WTA championship (with three 5-set matches during that period) and in the predecessor tournament to the US Open at end of 19th century; 2. WTA have said on several occasions that their players are willing and able to play best of five sets; 3. women are physically capable of taking part in endurance sports (eg women run marathons and note that Caroline Wozniack trained for and ran the 2014 New York marathon). However over time the trend has been to shorten both men’s and women’s matches not lengthen them. All Masters tournaments are now best of three sets for men as well as for women (the four major Opens are the only tournaments to retain the men’s best of five); tie breaks were introduced in the 70s for all but the 5th set; match tie breaks have been introduced into mixed doubles. Organisers already have scheduling difficulties (particularly at Wimbledon with weather interruptions) and matches already not uncommonly run into the early hours of the morning (with difficulties for players and viewers). Overall I suspect it is more likely that men’s matches would get reduced to the best of three sets at Opens rather than women’s be lengthened. But the author’s suggestion of a best-of-five-sets women’s final, which is a standalone event without time constraints, is an interesting and practical suggestion. One-sided matches would just add a third one-sided set but that is already true of men’s finals (e.g. McEnroe defeating Connors in 1984 Wimbledon Final 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 80 minutes). However tight, competitive matches where the ascendancy fluctuates from player to player would be exciting to watch. Some of the women would need to adjust their training to be ready for five sets (mentally as well as physically) but history shows women are able to do that. I for one would support a best-of-five-sets women’s final.
Michael Clare
Guest
Whilst I'd like to see five set matches for the women in grand slams, perhaps one alternative might be to do away with the tie-break in the women's game. After all, the invention of the tie-breaker in the late 1960s was an American innovation designed to help shorten the game for television viewers. It has arguably improved the men's game, but to some extent weakened the women's game. For example, the 1919 Women's Wimbledon Final between Suzanne Lenglen and Dorothea Lambert-Chambers saw a total of 44 games played in a match lasting close to three hours - this all undertaken in long skirts, stockings in three advantage sets; the final score 10-8, 4-6, 9-7. The modern well-trained female athlete could surely play such a match and it would be a great spectacle, but sadly under current rules we will never see it.
1st&10
Guest
Same pay for same number of sets
Wayne
Roar Guru
They don't train to play 5, so springing it on them will need to be brought in carefully. There is a equivalent in hockey. We play a draw in every regular season game. Come finals, penalty shootouts are introduced to decide a winner. A completely different skill just for finals
duecer
Guest
The womens end of year championships did run for 5 sets, but have been 3 for awhile now, so it's not like a new idea. I think it's only fair, but it would have to be done gradually. Start with the end of year, then the final of each of the grand slams then the semis and see how it goes. I agree with Bruce that the fitness may not be there at this stage.
Rohit Asopa
Roar Pro
They're playing against each other though, not Rafa.
Bruce
Guest
Currently the women aren't fit enough for best of 5. This isn't a criticism, but it makes sense because they don't need to be fit enough for best of 5. Look at the halep kerber match, both exhausted after 2 hours while best of 5 routinely go 4 hours.
Joshua Butler
Guest
Why not make ALL matches (across both men's and women's tournaments) either 3 or 5 sets? (every match, not just the final) So, either drop the men's matches to 3 sets OR increase women's matches to 5 sets (obviously not both, I mean go with either option) and start this with the junior tournaments (eg. all matches being 3 sets), with open-age tournaments going to universal 5-set matches
Ragav
Guest
It is a good idea and it is worth implementing this in grand slam finals if the top players in the women's game are interested.