Grand Slams: John McEnroe for match tie-break instead of fifth set
John McEnroe has spoken to Reuters for a match tie-break instead of the fifth set in Grand Slams. The American sees this variant as a necessary compromise.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Feb 05, 2021, 01:25 pm
It is a long and often very emotional discussion: While long-time and die-hard tennis fans and experts for the most part unanimously plead for keeping the best-of-five format for the four majors, the counterpart argues that the associated planning uncertainty in terms of playing time must be avoided get rid of it to make tennis as a product bigger.
John McEnroe shares the same line: "We want this sport to grow, for heaven's sake. We shoot ourselves in the knee all the time. I don't get it. We have this incredible sport, so we should try to make it accessible to make them want to tune in, " Reuters quoted the American as saying.
McEnroe suggests compromise
He himself, according to McEnroe, is always looking for a solution in the middle, for a compromise: "This is a best-of-five format, but let's say a 10-point tie-break (note: match-tie breaks) at the end of the fourth movement, "says the 61-year-old. "That would be my compromise. I wouldn't do best-of-three in the majors now."
Chris Evert also sees a lot of potential in this variant, with an extension of three points in such a match tie-break it would not be nearly as tense as with conventional tie-breaks: "It's not like a seven-point tie-break in which every point is like shaking in your shoes, "the 66-year-old American told Reuters .
Smaller shortening tendencies have already found their way into the Grand Slams in recent years. At both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, a tiebreaker was introduced at the end of the fifth set to make the decision. Only at the French Open is the fifth set played until one player is two games in front.