Tennis is listed (in major tournaments) as one of the sports offering equal prize money for men and women.
Asked in Miami, Stefanos Tsitsipas (eliminated in the round of 16 in Miami by Carlos Alcaraz) assured: “
I don't want to be controversial.
Women get equal pay for playing best of three sets.
I have been told that women have better stamina than men.
I do not know.
So maybe they can play best of five sets too…
”
“
Will he want to play in nine sets?
If he tries to extend the duration of my match, I can do the same… This guy is too funny
”, replied the Japanese Naomi Osaka, former world No. 1 (qualified for the semi-finals in Miami, she will face the Swiss Belinda Bencic).
The idea of seeing women play in 5 sets is not new.
The women's Masters, between 1984 and 1998 was played in the best of 5 sets.
And regularly, some players or former players are not hostile to women's matches in 3 winning sets.
Amélie Mauresmo, the former world No. 1 who became director of Roland-Garros, had defended the idea when in January 2021, she assured: “
I am for the women's Grand Slam finals best of 5 sets.
On the sporting aspect, I am in favor of women playing in 5 sets, initially for the Grand Slam finals.
There are often one-sided finals.
I think it would allow the players to get into the finals a little better and to offer something else.
And why not decline it then in half... I don't know.
It would take women's tennis to another level.
There would be more and more athletes.
" During the presentation of the novelties of the French Open, on March 16, Amélie Maursemo had slipped as to whether the semi-finals and / or the final of Roland-Garros could be played in five sets: "
It's not topical.
Still, maybe one day.
We must talk about the cohesion between the Grand Slams, this will deserve discussions to perhaps arrive at this option.
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