Paula Badosa has been running the headlines in the last few weeks, but not for her game! It’s because of her controversial statements surrounding disparity in men’s and women’s tennis. We’ve had several discussions over the last few years about whether WTA should also consider a transition to best-of-five sets, similar to that of men in major tournaments. Different players have given different opinions! What did Badosa say on this issue which has now started to raise the eyebrows of several tennis fans and give flak to Stefanos Tsitsipas?

The best-of-five-sets format was first introduced in the WTA Finals from 1984 to 1998, but after that, it switched to best-of-three. Speaking on the prospect of bringing back the old routine during an interview at the Citi Open, the 26-year-old Spaniard said, “I personally don’t think women are prepared to play 5 sets.“

She further added, “Also because of what we go through. For example, we go through periods. Our bodies aren’t like a man’s body. So I really think a woman wouldn’t recover as well as a man does.” Previously we heard Badosa revealing that her doctors told her that prolonging her career would be “very complicated“. Now, prolonging the matches would surely make it more difficult for her to sustain in the women’s Tour. 

However, tennis fans have come out in numbers to reflect their opinions on this statement by the former world number two on the best-of-five versus the best-of-three issue. Let’s find out what are the fans saying on social media.

Fans aren’t too pleased with Paula Badosa’s recent statement that says women can’t play five-setters

Venus Williams and Serena Williams always said, “Women’s tennis is not as valuable as men’s tennis.” Then there are some like Badosa who feel, “I have always been very clear that we are what we generate, regardless of gender.” She feels men’s tennis generates more than women’s so they get more coverage. This statement raised some controversy, and now, her recent statement on playing five-setters made the fans say, “Sick of her and her man.“

Wait! What did her man do? Well, Tsitsipas had previously reignited this age-old debate by stating, “I don’t want to be controversial or anything. There is also the topic of equal pay and everything, women getting equal pay for playing best-of-three, then getting equal pay for playing best-of-five.” After coming across the two statements from ‘Tsitsidosa’, fans wonder, “Why do I feel like that man has indoctrinated her with his misogynistic bullshit.“

Even Naomi Osaka had previously reacted to this statement of Tsitsipas. She jokingly stated, “Does he want to play nine sets? If he tries to extend mine, I’m going to extend his.” With Tsitsipas and Badosa echoing a similar emotion, some of the fans think “They need to test the tsitsidosa apartment for lead paint im so serious.“

Badosa raised a similar controversy when she backed her best friend, Aryna Sabalenka’s revelation of her preferring to watch more of men’s tennis rather than women’s. Badosa said, “I’m pretty sure she watches WTA because she watches me.” She received quite a few backlashes for this controversial backing. Even this time the fans didn’t let her go empty-handed, but also brought in Tsitsipas in this controversy. “She really is Stefanos’ girlfriend,” a fan wrote sarcastically. 

However, several tennis stars like Andy Muray think, “If the women were asked to play five-set matches I’m sure they would be more than capable and more than willing to do that.” This is quite contrary to what Badosa has to say on this. However, according to American tennis legend Billie Jean King, it’s true that women want to play five sets too but people want, “quality over quantity.” So, it’s better to keep it to three sets for both men and women! However, among all these statements it’s the statement of ‘Tsitsidosa’ which caused much flare among the fans. “She and Stefanos were meant to be I guess,” said the other fans.

An age old argument found new participants. What do you believe about Badosa’s comments?