Victoria Azarenka Says Women’s Playing 5 Sets In Grand Slams Is A Dumb Idea
Victoria Azarenka cruised in her Canadian Open first round match Monday besting Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette.
At the end of her press conference, the former No. 1 was asked about improvements she would make to the game. Among her main points in shorter matches, not longer.
“Maybe something that we can talk about it shortening the tennis matches where you can have predictable slots. Add a little bit more spice and drama to a shorter event where you have kind of every point matter.
“I feel like there should be space and also willingness to look and see… okay, how can we actually grow the sport and how we can attract people and crowds and especially young kids too to come and watch tennis. I’m not sure only Netflix show will do that.
“You don’t want to change tennis to not be tennis but doubles, for example, in Wimbledon has changed from five sets. Why were they playing five sets? Times are changing. Physicality of sport is changing.
“If we’re talking about having quality events. If you shorten the matches players are healthier to play more and you have more rivalries and there is benefit.
“Let’s look at some options because some of the meetings we had with the Grand Slams the best idea they came up with to add more drama is to have women play out of five sets and I’m sorry that was just the dumbest thing I’ve heard.”
Azarenka added that the tour setup with the schedule, rankings, tournament levels is all just too confusion and difficult for the casual fan to follow. “There is a lot in tennis that needs to be simplified,” she rightfully said.
Azarenka will be back tomorrow for a best-of-3 set match against former US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
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