Topic: Looking at all of these top men coming back from 0-2 and 1-2 sets down...

[Babblelot]

...makes me wonder why *women* aren't calling for a change to best of 5 sets! 

Seriously, if men played best of 3 in grand slams, who would be the champion? More often than not the same person we can suppose, but how much more often is an interesting question.

Azarenka has got to be telling herself, "I could have taken out Cibulkova in 5." In light of the mens' roller coaster matches, one would think the women would be proponents of best of 5 sets.

In any event, all hail best of 5 sets.

For the most part, you can chuck the best of 3 sets out the window. Today, Delpo would finally have beaten Roger after 5 straight losses had this been a best of 3 sets match. 

SOY de Roger!

[Dallas]

Most of the women seem like they are about to fall down from being tired in a 3-set match.  I can't imagine what they would do if they had to play all their slam matches as a "best-of-5".  Let's face it - Many of the women are not in great shape these days.

[Mertov]

Women have played 5 sets before (Billie Jean King loves to remind people that in the beginning of tennis women also played best out of five, about a century ago), recently between 1984 and 1998 in the finals of the year-ending championships.  In 1996, Graf beat Hingis in a thrilling 5-setter..

WTA CEO and Chairman Stacey Allaster is all for it, she has said it more than once to media. 

Biggest obstacles are Slam tournament organizers, sexist opinions, and few of the WTA top players (examples:  Serena, and Sharapova).  Slam tournament organizers are probably the biggest "anti" people on this because of the numerous scheduling problems that would cause during the 4 tournaments.  Williams and Sharapova (and several other lower-ranked players) don't want to do it because they are afraid of injuries, or being too tired to play doubles and/or mixed - thus not be able to make that extra income.

Personally, I think it's ridiculous for the fans.  I don't know how much a ticket costs for example for the Saturday final of a Slam for women and a Sunday final for men, but if it's the same, I would have zero motivation to buy a women's final ticket where I may risk getting to see 41 minutes match, whereas in the men's final there is at least a larger chance of a turnaround, or one set or two being close.  Ticket value is simply not the same.  It should be the same for men and women (which is what Allaster would like if it was up to her).  Maybe even make men 2 out 3 sets until the quarters and 3 out 5 from there on, and do exactly the same with women; in any outcome that may be, it should be the same for both men and women.

[Babblelot]

Logistically impossible and I'm no proponent of a change, as I've long said I'd never want to see the women go best of 5 because I actually go to the slams, and when the women are on the court, all I'm thinking is, "OK, this will only take an hour, then two mens matches will follow." As a TV viewer, however, I'd like to see Azarenka try to take out Cibulkova in 5 because the way the networks jump from match-to-match, we wouldn't rejoin Azarenka-Cibulkova until it was 4-4 in the 5th set. But then we'd run headlong into logistics.

It's worth noting that logistical problems are to some extent a function of the powers that be wanting to give tennis fandom "what they want:" long rallies (right?!). I think they ought to be careful, because I think there are diminishing returns to this philosophy. IMO the 6 hours it took Nole to beat Rafa in Melbourne was ridiculous. These guys have proven to be indefatigable. I can't see this being a good thing in the long run.

[williamchung7]

I don't know. After Australian Open final, I immediately yelled that you guys (Nadal and Djokovic) should learn how do volley and cut down the point. 

[medwatt]

Please let it don't be 5 sets !! Two more sets will drive anybody mad !! Imagine Sharapova screaming her *** off for 5 hours !! Venus with her screeching wail and Azarenka with the periodic cacophony !! You will certainly loose lose your neighbours' respect !!

[ashwin#1]

Please let it don't be 5 sets !! Two more sets will drive anybody mad !! Imagine Sharapova screaming her *** off for 5 hours !! Venus with her screeching wail and Azarenka with the periodic cacophony !! You will certainly loose lose your neighbours' respect !!

 
med certainly got that right...even hardcore WTA lovers might find it hard to tolerate hours of screeching..

but on the other hand, due to long duration of 5 set matches, maybe players might reduce the volume of their wailing to conserve energy..

i'd probably get a migraine attack if i had to listen to all those shreikings in a 5 hour match between sharapova & azarenka..

[Alex]

Please let it don't be 5 sets !! Two more sets will drive anybody mad !! Imagine Sharapova screaming her *** off for 5 hours !! Venus with her screeching wail and Azarenka with the periodic cacophony !! You will certainly loose lose your neighbours' respect !!

med is good, 

meh, I lost my interest for the WTA long time ago ...

[Dallas]

Logistically impossible and I'm no proponent of a change, as I've long said I'd never want to see the women go best of 5 because I actually go to the slams, and when the women are on the court, all I'm thinking is, "OK, this will only take an hour, then two mens matches will follow." As a TV viewer, however, I'd like to see Azarenka try to take out Cibulkova in 5 because the way the networks jump from match-to-match, we wouldn't rejoin Azarenka-Cibulkova until it was 4-4 in the 5th set. But then we'd run headlong into logistics.

It's worth noting that logistical problems are to some extent a function of the powers that be wanting to give tennis fandom "what they want:" long rallies (right?!). I think they ought to be careful, because I think there are diminishing returns to this philosophy. IMO the 6 hours it took Nole to beat Rafa in Melbourne was ridiculous. These guys have proven to be indefatigable. I can't see this being a good thing in the long run.

Not only that...but they both took sooooooooooo long in between points.  That makes a difference with a match being either 4 hours vs 6 hours.  That was a hard match for me to watch between they both took so long in between points...It was like watching paint dry before they finally got another point in play.  Again, I would love to see a shot clock on court counting down the time before they would have to put the ball in play.  It might happen eventually, just like the shot spot we now have.  Sometimes good inventions to help "speed up" the play is great.  Maybe then it will force the players not to try to play a 45 point rally knowing they would be on the clock the next point!

[Babblelot]

Logistically impossible and I'm no proponent of a change, as I've long said I'd never want to see the women go best of 5 because I actually go to the slams, and when the women are on the court, all I'm thinking is, "OK, this will only take an hour, then two mens matches will follow." As a TV viewer, however, I'd like to see Azarenka try to take out Cibulkova in 5 because the way the networks jump from match-to-match, we wouldn't rejoin Azarenka-Cibulkova until it was 4-4 in the 5th set. But then we'd run headlong into logistics.

I meant to add, all that aside, I just find it funny that Azarenka isn't on to this, especially in light of the fact that her main challengers, Serena and Maria, are against it.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

[Dallas]

Logistically impossible and I'm no proponent of a change, as I've long said I'd never want to see the women go best of 5 because I actually go to the slams, and when the women are on the court, all I'm thinking is, "OK, this will only take an hour, then two mens matches will follow." As a TV viewer, however, I'd like to see Azarenka try to take out Cibulkova in 5 because the way the networks jump from match-to-match, we wouldn't rejoin Azarenka-Cibulkova until it was 4-4 in the 5th set. But then we'd run headlong into logistics.

I meant to add, all that aside, I just find it funny that Azarenka isn't on to this, especially in light of the fact that her main challengers, Serena and Maria, are against it.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

are you actually using this....or just messing with us?

[Tennis4you]

If it was best of 3 we would see more upsets on the men's side I believe.  Tough to beat the top few over the course of 5 sets though!!!

[Babblelot]

If it was best of 3 we would see more upsets on the men's side I believe.  Tough to beat the top few over the course of 5 sets though!!!

Absolutely. We all know a few instances in which Roger was down 2-1 sets and now at least a couple which he's been down 2-0 sets.

And over the years, Nole has played more 5 setters than Roger.

I just can't believe Azarenka doesn't go rebel on the tour and say during her presser, "Look at the men, today. Roger and Nole would be out of the tournament if they played best of 3 sets like women. If women played best of 5 sets, I'm certain I'd still be around. This is not fair to women."

[Babblelot]

I meant to add, all that aside, I just find it funny that Azarenka isn't on to this, especially in light of the fact that her main challengers, Serena and Maria, are against it.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

are you actually using this....or just messing with us?

It's for reals. A new Android app, Tapatalk 2, was only $0.99, so I bought it. Very good app! 

[Alex]

I meant to add, all that aside, I just find it funny that Azarenka isn't on to this, especially in light of the fact that her main challengers, Serena and Maria, are against it.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

are you actually using this....or just messing with us?

It's for reals. A new Android app, Tapatalk 2, was only $0.99, so I bought it. Very good app! 

babs, very disappointed with you ...
sending this from none existing Tapatalk 3...

[Dallas]

I meant to add, all that aside, I just find it funny that Azarenka isn't on to this, especially in light of the fact that her main challengers, Serena and Maria, are against it.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

are you actually using this....or just messing with us?

But we were talked about when we first got the app....now you're saying it's a good app!  (I told you that when I first got it!)

It's for reals. A new Android app, Tapatalk 2, was only $0.99, so I bought it. Very good app! 

[Babblelot]

I meant to add, all that aside, I just find it funny that Azarenka isn't on to this, especially in light of the fact that her main challengers, Serena and Maria, are against it.

Sent from my SPH-D600 using Tapatalk 2

are you actually using this....or just messing with us?

But we were talked about when we first got the app....now you're saying it's a good app!  (I told you that when I first got it!)

It's for reals. A new Android app, Tapatalk 2, was only $0.99, so I bought it. Very good app! 

The first app I got was a free knock-off called Convo. It sucked. When I saw Tapatalk dropped from $2.99 to $0.99, I bought. Superior app 

BUT! unlike you, I only have it set up for T4U. I can't use it on anything else 

[Dallas]

If you participate in other forums, you can also use it there. I really only use it here since I spend most of my time here...but it'll work with other forums too.


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