why do women play best of 3 sets and men best of 5

[jukka1970]

You know for a long time, this question has always been on my mind. It came into my mind even more when equal prize money was being discussed at the slams.

I've never understood why the women only play the best of three sets. I mean especially now, the women are certainly fit enough. The women are producing some really big 3 set games. I really wish that both males and females should be playing the best of 5 sets. I certainly think it would help tennis in many ways, including pushing that both genders can certainly play the game. Even back in the 80's when I was first watching. Graf and Navratilova certainly could go 5 sets. Novotna, Martinez, and certainly Sanchez Vicario.

So why does tennis still put this somewhat of a barrier between men and women. It would also put an end to the difference in prize money.

Because women need more time to spend thier winnings on shopping, fashion wear cosmetics and stuff than to stay longer on the tennis courts than us stupid men ..sheeeeez

[friedalo1]

Female tennis player are weaker than men in stamina.

Because women lack strength, stamina, endurance, and overall game to last 5 sets. They're shaking their legs in fatigue from a long 3 setter already!

[Progressive10s]

The WTA did play the best of five sets when the season ending tournament was held in New York. I cannot remember when that was, but they did play best of five. That was the only tournament that was best of five for the women.

[littlelleyton]

i find the level of sexism and rash generlisation here incredible or maybe this is a time wrap back to the 40 and 50s.
do women not compete in the marathon and other long distance athletics events? was it not a women who broke the round the world single sailing record? have many women not been climbing Everest for over 20 years? ar eyou trying to say that these women lacked stamina, strenght and endurance? i think not. so how can any person say that generally women have weaker stamina then men????
this is a very closed minded view.
it is fair to say that women on the WTA tour probably do not have the stamina and endurance to play 5 set matches but then why would they, they training and prepare their bodies only to last the maximum they need to perform. could it also be fair to say that if need be could women train and prepare physically for a longer match, of course they could, it is all relivant to their needs.
i doubt very much if most of the people on this board could last a 3 setter against one of the ladies from the tour or do any of the afore mentioned activities, but could they train and prepare and one day be able to do them, yes course they could.

[ACE of Hearts]

I think Venus and Serena can play 5 setters, Davenport would need an oxygen mask along with the other female players

[tennissavy]

Originally Posted by ACE of Hearts

I think Venus and Serena can play 5 setters, Davenport would need an oxygen mask along with the other female players

WTA championships had a 5 set final format. The women lasted just fine in 5 sets. If you are too young to remember that, you should have listened to Mary Carillo, I believe, who said at Wimbledon last week that immediately after her matches, Sharapova gets on a stationary bike for at least 30 minutes. Most wta players can play high quality 5 setters.

[Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

WTA championships had a 5 set final format. The women lasted just fine in 5 sets. If you are too young to remember that, you should have listened to Mary Carillo, I believe, who said at Wimbledon last week that immediately after her matches, Sharapova gets on a stationary bike for at least 30 minutes. Most wta players can play high quality 5 setters.

If that really is the case, I'm all for making the WTA format like the men's.

[spinbalz]

why do women play best of 3 sets and men best of 5?

It is only because Women tennis is boring, so tennis instances had to make it best of 3 instead of best of 5. This way, the peoples who watch it, waiting for the next match played by men, get bored for a shorter period of time.

[tennissavy]

Originally Posted by spinbalz

why do women play best of 3 sets and men best of 5

It is only because Women tennis is boring, so tennis instances had to make it best of 3 instead of best of 5. This way, the peoples who watch it, waiting for the next match played by men, get bored for a shorter period of time.

The federer/roddick wimbledon final was extremely boring. The higher quality final was the williams/davenport match which was far more interesting.
In any case, best of 3 sets should be implemented for both tours. 5 sets is usually too long except in the case when the level is extremely high throughout the match. I could count those matches on one hand in all the years I've watched tennis. Best of 3 sets would be so much better for the atp as there would be less injuries and players would retire from the sport later. Playing best of 5 contributes to burnout.

[spinbalz]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

5 sets is usually too long except in the case when the level is extremely high throughout the match. I could count those matches on one hand in all the years I've watched tennis.

Then you are very unlucky, because personnaly I couldn't count those matches on only one hand for only this year's Australian and French open, so imagine how many great 5 setters I saw during all the years that I follow tennis...

And personnaly, even if the Women wimbledon final had more drama and momentum switch, the fact is that the shotmaking during the men final was ten times better, it is the case since tennis exists and it will continue to be like that. Seeing a girl like Venus williams winning wimbledon with all the ugly technical defaults and that she has, facing a Davenport during the final who can barely move her body is not a show that provides any pleasure to me, instead, I will always prefer to watch the flawless tennis of federer facing the brutal force and energy of Roddick, even if there is less suspense/drama and momentum switch.

There are plenty of matches with much intensity, drama, suspens, and mometum switch even at the recreational 2.5 level, but nobody pays to watch it, because everybody knows that the quality of execution of the shots doesn't deserve attention, and for me it is about the same thing concerning women pro tennis, of course I know that the stroke execution is way better than 2.5, but it simply can't be compared to professional mens. The level of women pros is usually not good enough to get my attention. Of course everybody is free to prefer women tennis or to simply don't have any preference, but the real reason why women play best of 3 sets and men best of 5, is because there are too much peoples like me who get bored by women pro tennis and prefer to watch the mens. It is the simple true answer to the original question of this thread.

[tennissavy]

Spinbalz,
L'annee derniere j'etais a Flushing Meadow ou Je regardais un match entre Henman et Karlovic. Barbant. Je suis alle ailleurs pour voir Petrova qui frappait avec plus de puissance et precision. C'est vrai. J'aime le ATP et j'aime le WTA mais je prefere regarder les matches entre les femmes. Pour moi, je souffre quand je regarde 5 manches entre les mecs. A chacun son gout.

[spinbalz]

A chacun son gout.

We agree on that point.


And I want to express all my compassion for you, because I agree that seeing any match involving karlovic is a hell of a torture, I hope that you don't suffer from too many after-effects

[ATXtennisaddict]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

The federer/roddick wimbledon final was extremely boring. The higher quality final was the williams/davenport match which was far more interesting.
In any case, best of 3 sets should be implemented for both tours. 5 sets is usually too long except in the case when the level is extremely high throughout the match. I could count those matches on one hand in all the years I've watched tennis. Best of 3 sets would be so much better for the atp as there would be less injuries and players would retire from the sport later. Playing best of 5 contributes to burnout.

They don't play 5-setters all the time. If they burn out, then they should be in another profession. That is the nature of pro sports.

[PusherMan]

Lotta sour grapes on the TW boards.

[dennis1188]

Maintain, equal prize money and effort, regardless?
Would that many folks, care to watch for five sets, is another matter.

[ambro]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

WTA championships had a 5 set final format. The women lasted just fine in 5 sets. If you are too young to remember that, you should have listened to Mary Carillo, I believe, who said at Wimbledon last week that immediately after her matches, Sharapova gets on a stationary bike for at least 30 minutes. Most wta players can play high quality 5 setters.

The stationary bike is to drain the lactic acid from the legs. People do this to avoid cramping in all sports.

[Ryoma Kun]

its because women are inferior to men. they would start *****in n pushin teh ball midway in the 4th and it just wouldnt be fun anymore.

plus, we dont want to give the blacks a chance to win

[newnuse]

Originally Posted by littlelleyton

i find the level of sexism and rash generlisation here incredible or maybe this is a time wrap back to the 40 and 50s.
do women not compete in the marathon and other long distance athletics events? was it not a women who broke the round the world single sailing record? have many women not been climbing Everest for over 20 years? ar eyou trying to say that these women lacked stamina, strenght and endurance? i think not. so how can any person say that generally women have weaker stamina then men????
this is a very closed minded view.
it is fair to say that women on the WTA tour probably do not have the stamina and endurance to play 5 set matches but then why would they, they training and prepare their bodies only to last the maximum they need to perform. could it also be fair to say that if need be could women train and prepare physically for a longer match, of course they could, it is all relivant to their needs.
i doubt very much if most of the people on this board could last a 3 setter against one of the ladies from the tour or do any of the afore mentioned activities, but could they train and prepare and one day be able to do them, yes course they could.

Right on, although I find it ironic coming from a Hewitt fan.

I think they play 3 sets because it's just tradition. Women have always played best of 3. Maybe back in the days, women were considered more fragile or something. But now, it's just tradition. It's the way it has always been done.