The best Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina spoke about a possible change in the format of women’s tennis at the Grand Slam: five-set matches instead of three.

This issue became a topic of discussion after at the beginning of the year the director of the Australian Open-2026, Craig Tiley, expressed the idea of ​​increasing the number of sets for women’s matches from three to five, starting with the quarterfinals.

Context of discussions on changes to the Grand Slam format

“I think it’s a very interesting idea: to play five sets,” said the Ukrainian tennis leader. “In principle, I would be interested in trying this. Why not? I think it is great and gives the players more time to get into the rhythm. But of course this would require preparation, as these could be very physically demanding matches. So it is a very interesting idea; I wouldn’t be against it.”

While some players support the change, others believe that the longer duration of matches could create significant tension, especially in the context of many tournament days and the demands of physical preparation.

Historically: The five-set format was not new to women’s tennis. For example, from 1984 to 1998 the final of the WTA Finals was played in five sets.

At the moment, the discussion continues and much depends on the preparation of the players, changes in the tournament regulations and the decisions of the relevant organizations.