Should Grand Slam matches prioritize endurance or skill? The ongoing discussion about switching from best-of-five to best-of-three sets has intensified the debate over the ideal match format. Recent trends, such as the increasing number of top players withdrawing from doubles competitions—exemplified by Emma Raducanu‘s decision to pull out of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon—indicate a growing strain on players’ physical and mental resources. Martina Navratilova‘s insights offer potential answers to this pressing question about the balance between endurance and skill in modern tennis.

Due to Raducanu’s withdrawal, Murray didn’t get the chance to bid goodbye to all the home fans at the Grand Slam event. However, this isn’t the only incident as previously we’ve seen Nick Kyrgios say, “Why the f*** am I playing doubles?” during the 2018 AO. Then recently Mirra Andreeva also pulled out her name from the French Open doubles event after making the singles SF. There are many such examples, but how can we make these top players play doubles events?

“Make them play. If they default in it they can play singles so that they stay in it,” said Navratilova in the Tennis Channel Live Podcast. She also gave the example of the 7-time Grand Slam champ, John McEnroe, and added, “For guys it’s tough! It’s 3 out of 5, it really is…The game is more physical no doubt about it. And for guys 3 out of 5 it’s pretty tough to play singles and doubles. But McEnroe did it and he wasn’t in the best shape but he still managed.”

She is a firm believer of doubles tennis makes the players better in singles, and at the same time singles tennis makes one better in doubles! Like mentioned earlier, McEnroe won seven major singles titles (four at the US Open and three at Wimbledon), nine Grand Slam men’s doubles titles (five at Wimbledon and four at the US Open), and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title (at the French Open). So, this is a classic example of her statement.

On the contrary, tennis greats of the ‘Big Three’ like Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer only played doubles in major tournaments when they were young. However, they couldn’t wave their magic wand in those events! While Djokovic, pairing with Jonathan Erlich, captured his first and only doubles trophy at AEGON Championships trophy on team debut, Federer has managed to appear in 14 doubles’ finals, winning 8 of them. One thing to note is none of those came in Grand Slams. 

Is reducing the best of five to the best of three the real solution in the Grand Slam events? Well, the tennis world is currently divided on this, and here’s what they have to say.

Best-of-Five debate splits tennis greats

As per several reports, this year, there were 34 matches that went the distance at the All England Club across the first three rounds. That’s in fact the most at any Slam in the Open Era. This persistent issue has caught the attention of Djokovic and here’s his tiny advice to his gigantic problem. He thinks taking a hybrid approach may solve this issue a bit.

Like going with the best of three in the first opening rounds and then switching to the best of five from the fourth round or QF. Dominic Thiem said “Majors should stay away” from the best of five. Even Billie Jean King thinks that men’s matches at majors should be reduced to best of three. But for women’s?

On the other hand, Rafael Nadal said, “I mean, winning Grand Slam, playing best-of-three demand to the player something else, no? Stronger mentally, stronger physically, be solid for such a long time and for such a long two weeks. So I really believe that’s the right thing to do.” The Spaniard is more a believer of the traditional format just like Andy Murray who likes to play best of five formats. What are your thoughts on this hot topic?