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Calls to scrap "boring" five-set format in men's tennis
Emily Benammar • January 21st, 2026 1:21 pm
Is it time for men’s five-set tennis to end?
Far from the days where it was argued (mostly by men) that women didn’t deserve equal pay in slams because they didn’t play across five sets, the debate has been flipped on its head.
It’s becoming an all-too-common occurrence on the ATP Tour that some of the biggest names in the sport are being sidelined by chronic injuries.
Nick Kyrgios has not played anything close to a full season since 2022 and he is not alone in being forced to undergo surgeries and intense physio to battle back to form.
Moreover, the likes of Kyrgios have warned they may never get back to the level they once were.
The Aussie is not alone. Jack Draper withdrew form this year’s tournament saying he was fit but not fit enough for the demands of five sets while Thanasi Kokkinakis said something similar.
So, is it time for tennis to rethink the format on the men’s side of things?
Absolutely, says respected tennis expert and journalist Catherine Whitaker.
“This constant onslaught of news about the most exciting young players in the sport, particularly in the men’s version of the sport, suffering from chronic injury that feels like is going to prevent them to a greater or lesser degree from fulfilling the potential that the whole sport wants them to,” Whitaker said on The Tennis Podcast.
“I find it extremely sad and extremely worrying, and I find it incredibly frustrating that tennis just buries its heads in the sand about it.
“It just feels so increasingly clear to me that five set tennis does not work. Doesn’t, it doesn’t work. It’s not fit for purpose in the modern day.
“It’s happening a lot more in men’s tennis than in women’s tennis. And you know, Jack Draper said he was ready to play, he’s just not ready to play best of five set tennis. Like the bar for these sorts of injuries is higher.
“And of course, the more match time you have, the more likely you are to sustain injury or to re-injure yourself. Like it just makes logical sense.”
Last July, Kyrgios leant his support to scrapping five sets – up to a point.
Speaking to the BBC he said: “I actually want best of five sets to leave men’s tennis as well, up until the quarterfinal. I think that would fix a lot of the scheduling issues, it would fix these delays on court in the earlier rounds, you would see more upsets.
“These bigger guys, especially in the first couple of rounds. Alcaraz went down an early set, and then already the alarm bells are ringing. It’s like I am on the brink already, first round of Wimbledon, whereas you always knew he was going to find a way and win in the best of five.
“If it were best of three up to the quarterfinals, I think you are going to see a lot more intensity, and then when you get to the quarterfinals, you can play best of five sets. I think that would add a lot more excitement to Grand Slams. You would see a lot more new champions as well. But I don’t know if it’s ever going to change.”
Andy Murray is also in the same camp saying five sets are not for him.
“I think for me best of five was great for better players,” he said. “The longer the matches go on the more chance there is to come back and figure things out.
“So as a player I loved it. As a fan, I personally would not sit and watch a best of five set match now. It’s too long. I have a family, I have other things to do. I would not watch, but tennis fans seem to enjoy best of five format
As for the women’s game, Jessica Pegula rejected the notion of playing five and last year backed calls for the men’s game to be changed.
"I would rather the men play two-out-of-three. I don't think we all need to start playing three-out-of-five,” she said. “For me it's too long. I personally lose interest watching the matches.
I think they're incredible matches and incredible physically and mentally. I'm, like, 'Do we really need that?' I don't know. I mean, some people love it.
“I personally will not watch a full five-hour match. People can't even hold their attention long enough they say these days with phones. How are they holding their attention for five hours? I don't know. Just not my thing.”
