I wish Men's Tennis was 3 sets also

[acura9927]

I really enjoyed yesterday's women's final and how the excitment was not dragged out too long to lose momenteum. Some of men's matches lasts way too long. I would like to see Best of 3 in all the finals so we get to see total urgency in every round. No more falling asleep in the 1st set than crushing the opponent next 3 which makes me flip the channel most of the time.

[zam88]

Originally Posted by acura9927

I really enjoyed yesterday's women's final and how the excitment was not dragged out too long to lose momenteum. Some of men's matches lasts way too long. I would like to see Best of 3 in all the finals so we get to see total urgency in every round. No more falling asleep in the 1st set than crushing the opponent next 3 which makes me flip the channel most of the time.

I'm torn on this.

sometimes i agree, other times i'm thankful for 5 sets because i think there would be a lot more upsets without the 5 set matches and more undeserving champions.... although having said that the vast majority of "masters 1000" tournaments have also been won by Fed, Nadal, Djoker, and Murray also.


But i agree it's gotten to the point where I'd just as soon either skip watching the first set, or DVR it and fast forward though most of it.


The AO this year was for all intents and purposes a great match... but I can't watch porn for 6 hours let alone watch a tennis match. I'm not sure whether the people that were there at the match were ultimately just relieved it was over, or if they were truly entertained.

I can't even imagine playing that long... let alone from a physical perspective... but the mental one as well..

I DVR'd that match and still fast-forwarded though a set and a half and still watched 3 hours of tennis.

[JRstriker12]

IIRC - The master series level tournaments are already best out of 3.

I'm fine with leaving the Grand Slams as best out of 5. I was at the US Open for the Murray vs. Berdych semi-final

With a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(7) scoreline the match couldn't have been better. anyone can get hot for a set or two, but best out of 5 at the slams makes it a real test of fitness as well as tennis. That fourth set was a real nail-bitter after Murray cooled off and Tomas stepped up his game.

Besides, have you seen how many women's matches end in a 2 set blow out? Where's the drama in that? This year was the first US Open women’s final that went three sets since 1995!!

I'd be ticked as a ticket holder to drop $200+ and get a match that was over in about 90 minutes.

I could see just making everything from the quarters on a 5 setter and leaving the early rounds at best out of 3 maybe...

But overall, I'm fine with the current format.

[skip1969]

it happens four times a year. is it really such a tragedy?

[redpurusha]

The thing is, is that while it only happens 4 times a year, most fans (or a large chunk of) only watch tennis at these four times.

At least speaking for myself. I rather much more go out and play the other times they play.

Originally Posted by skip1969

it happens four times a year. is it really such a tragedy?

[Vrad]

The problem isn't that 5 sets are too many. How come we never heard these complaints in the 90s? The problem is that the game has been slowed down to such an extent that every point is a rally-fest. And worse, the conditions now reward defensive players, who simply return the ball, than aggressive players who take chances.

Every slam today feels like the FO out of the 90s.

[redpurusha]

Thats true Vrad.

I GOT IT. How about we keep the 5 setters in place, but 4 games wins a set?! Anyone? (sound of crickets)

Originally Posted by Vrad

The problem isn't that 5 sets are too many. How come we never heard these complaints in the 90s? The problem is that the game has been slowed down to such an extent that every point is a rally-fest. And worse, the conditions now reward defensive players, who simply return the ball, than aggressive players who take chances.

Every slam today feels like the FO out of the 90s.

[acura9927]

Well its looks like todays Finals will be the length of 2 Batman movies.

[Vrad]

Originally Posted by acura9927

Well its looks like todays Finals will be the length of 2 Batman movies.

Djokovic seems to have heard this board, and is trying his hardest to make that not happen.

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by Vrad

The problem isn't that 5 sets are too many.

Don't bother with these kids. What they really are saying is 'the quality of tennis in the men's matches has been sub-par because of the wind. So they shouldn't play as long.

I think a lot of these people are really pro wrestling fans - they want scripted entertainment.

Do I wish there hadn't been so much wind? Of course. But these guys are pros - not the 1st time they've played in adverse conditions. Excuses and $0.50 will get you a bad cup of coffee.

[redpurusha]

I watched the 1st set. I went and played a match with a friend. I come back and its the start of the 5th set. Okay. I'm managing this. I'm a tennis fan but I just don't want to watch it for five hours rather play.

[JRstriker12]

Originally Posted by redpurusha

I watched the 1st set. I went and played a match with a friend. I come back and its the start of the 5th set. Okay. I'm managing this. I'm a tennis fan but I just don't want to watch it for five hours rather play.

If you want to go play, then go play. There are times where I've gone an played, recorded the match on a DVR and watched it later.

But there are also times where I've sat down and been mesmerized by a tight 5 set match and enjoyed every point.

I'd also argue that if you actually attend the event and buy tickets (grand slams are not cheap - the nose bleed seats in Ashe have a $125 face value for a semi final), you may appreciate the longer match.

[mistik]

Best 3 matches can never created matches like 07 and 08 Wimbledon finals.No just No.
The problem of yesterday match is not the time.Both player has same style and which makes it boring.Plus conditions didnt help either.

[tacou]

The tennis season is, what, 10 months long? And only 5 tournaments feature best of 5 sets.

You see week in week out guys like Murray, Federer, Nadal getting upset in 3 set matches. It's the nature of that format.

I don't want grand slam finals determined by chance. The final yesterday was engrossing. Sure watching something for 5 hours can be a bit demanding, but change the channel for awhile.

Murray would have been crowned US Open champions 76(10) 75 and the rest of the world would be saying--if it was best of 5 he would've choked. But now we know.

[Alchemy-Z]

I normally check score (up until the 3rd set) then I actually watch

so I normally only watch 3 sets MAX anyway

so I would be fine with this.

[yellowoctopus]

Most of us have to work avg. 40 hrs/wk for our paychecks. Why should these gifted freaks (envy, yes) deserve a break.

Let them work for the money, I say

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by tacou

The tennis season is, what, 10 months long? And only 5 tournaments feature best of 5 sets.

You see week in week out guys like Murray, Federer, Nadal getting upset in 3 set matches. It's the nature of that format.

I don't want grand slam finals determined by chance. The final yesterday was engrossing. Sure watching something for 5 hours can be a bit demanding, but change the channel for awhile.

Murray would have been crowned US Open champions 76(10) 75 and the rest of the world would be saying--if it was best of 5 he would've choked. But now we know.

I don't disagree that the format should not be changed. But I wouldn't use that argument. The reason the fab four get beat in best of 3 isn't the best of three format, it's that the tournament isn't a life or death motivator for them, mentally.

Someone did the math and if you look at Slam results and just used the first three sets, the best of 5 format would change the outcome in an incredibly small percentage of matches. Yesterday's match not being one of them, ho hum...

[Danny_G13]

No one has yet actually explained WHY men play best of 5 in slams and OG final.

There is no logical reason for it.

[JRstriker12]

Originally Posted by Danny_G13

No one has yet actually explained WHY men play best of 5 in slams and OG final.

There is no logical reason for it.

IIRC - up until about 2007, most men's tournaments were best of 5, all the GS and most masters series. Seeing as that's the normal format / rules that's the logical reason why.

Masters changed to best of 3 recently.

[North]

Originally Posted by Vrad

The problem isn't that 5 sets are too many. How come we never heard these complaints in the 90s? The problem is that the game has been slowed down to such an extent that every point is a rally-fest. And worse, the conditions now reward defensive players, who simply return the ball, than aggressive players who take chances.

Every slam today feels like the FO out of the 90s.

Lol. ^^^This - exactly. It didn't used to be boring to watch those longer matches when the average shots per point was maybe 5-6 (I have no idea if that is correct, but that's what it felt like) instead of 20+ shots of 2 players just running back and forth along the baseline. It's gotten so that I watch the first set for a while just to see how both players look coming out of the gate. Unless one player is actively trying to be offensive, get to the net, and/or end points quickly, I just tune in periodically to see how the match is going, until the final set. It's too bad - used to be a lot more fun to watch tennis.