LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka says she wouldn’t want women’s tennis to move to best-of-five-set matches at Grand Slam tournaments — like the men play — fearing higher injury risks.
LONDON (AP) — Top-rankedAryna Sabalenkasays she wouldn’t want women’s tennis to move to best-of-five-set matches at Grand Slam tournaments — like the men play — fearing higher injury risks.
“Probably physically I’m one of the strongest ones, so maybe it would benefit me. But I think I’m not ready to play five sets,” Sabalenka said following her two-set first-round victory atWimbledonon Monday.
“I think it’s too much on the woman’s body. I think we’re not ready for this amount of tennis. I think it would increase the amount of injuries. So I think this is not something I would consider.”
There’s no widespread movement for the change, but it’s an occasional talking point — if women’s tennis should move to best of five at the later stages of the major tournaments.
Sabalenka was asked about the French Open final in whichCarlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinnerin a five-setter that lasted 5 1/2 hours.
“For someone watching, it’s amazing to see five hours of great tennis,” Sabalenka said. “But I’m not really jealous to stay there for five hours as a player. I don’t know how many days they needed to recover after that crazy match.”
No. 2-ranked Coco Gauffexpressed similar sentiments about best of five sets on Saturday.
“It would favor me just from a physicality standpoint. But I do think it would kind of be a big change for the tour. I think it would be fine just keeping it like how it is,” the American said.
Sabalenka beat 194th-ranked Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 in 73 minutes on Monday.
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AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
The Associated Press