The debate over whether men should continue playing best-of-five-set matches at Wimbledon and other Grand Slams resurfaces periodically. Novak Djokovic, a strong proponent of maintaining the format, especially in the latter stages of major tournaments, believes it adds to the excitement and drama of the sport. However, he acknowledges the need to attract a younger audience and address concerns about player fatigue, suggesting a hybrid approach with best-of-three matches in the early rounds.
This year’s Wimbledon has witnessed an unprecedented number of five-set matches, with 34 matches going the distance in the first three rounds alone. As the fourth round began, the tournament was on track to equal the record for the most five-setters in an entire Grand Slam. Djokovic, who has won seven of his record 24 major championships at Wimbledon, highlights the allure of five-set matches, particularly the possibility of comebacks and thrilling twists. He boasts a strong record in five-setters, winning 40 out of 51.
Despite his stance, Djokovic recognizes the arguments against sticking with best-of-five, especially in an era of limited attention spans. He proposes a compromise, potentially introducing best-of-three matches in the opening rounds before switching to best-of-five from the fourth round onwards. “I think best-of-five, particularly in the last three or four rounds of a Slam, you need to keep,” he stated.
The thrilling nature of five-set matches is evident in the numerous comebacks witnessed at this year’s Wimbledon. One notable example is Holger Rune’s fourth-round victory over Quentin Halys, where he overcame a two-set deficit to win in five sets, marking the 10th comeback from such a deficit in the tournament.
Wimbledon has a history of hosting epic matches, including the longest match in tennis history, a three-day marathon that ended in a 70-68 fifth-set victory in 2010. The sheer length of these matches has prompted Wimbledon and other Grand Slams to introduce a first-to-10 tiebreaker at 6-all in the third set of women’s matches and the fifth set of men’s matches.
While Djokovic views a 2019 Wimbledon final victory over Roger Federer, which he won after erasing two championship points, as one of the most exciting matches of his career, he recognizes the physical toll five-set matches take on players. Djokovic himself hasn’t been pushed to five sets this tournament, but defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faced a five-set challenge against Frances Tiafoe.
The grueling nature of five-set matches was further highlighted by 21-year-old American Ben Shelton, who needed to win three consecutive five-setters to reach the fourth round, where he eventually lost to Jannik Sinner. No player has ever won four consecutive matches in five sets at a major, and Shelton didn’t have the opportunity to try.
The increased number of five-set matches in recent years is attributed to the heightened level of competition in men’s tennis. Denis Shapovalov, who lost to Shelton in five sets, explained: “There’s just so many good players right now. There’s not really any (easy) draws… And the level of tennis is at a super, super high stage. You just have to be ready to grind from Round 1.”
