Davydenko: Men should play best-of-3 matches

[adventure]

Think about how much longer tennis careers could be. Instead of seeing players retired by 30 or well past their prime by then, we might get to see top players playing great tennis until 32 or 33, perhaps even a bit longer.

As a fan, watching a 4 or 5 or 6 hour match really tests my patience.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20120830/davydenko-three-sets-debate/?sct=obinsite

NEW YORK (AP) -- After blowing a two-set lead and losing to Mardy Fish in five at the U.S. Open on Thursday, Nikolay Davydenko offered a solution for avoiding that in the future: Men should play best-of-three-set matches at Grand Slam tournaments and in Davis Cup.

Davydenko, a 31-year-old Russian, revived a familiar debate, too, by asking during a postmatch interview with The Associated Press, "Why [do] girls play best of three sets, and we should play best of five sets, and have the same prize money?''

"Why are we playing five-set matches? We need to play best of three in Grand Slams. Everybody will support [that idea, even Roger] Federer. For Federer, it's easy to win in one hour, two sets. No need to run [for] a third set,'' Davydenko said.

Against the 23rd-seeded Fish, Davydenko faded over the last three sets and lost their second-round match 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.

It was the tournament-record 10th time this year at Flushing Meadows that a man dropped the first two sets before coming back for a victory. And it's only Day 4.

"For sure, you need to be strong physically for long matches,'' Davydenko said.

He suggested that all men's events, including Davis Cup, should be limited to three-set matches, the way most of the week-in, week-out ATP tournaments are.

"In Davis Cup, there are matches Friday, Saturday, Sunday - every day, five-set matches. Me? I am too tired for this,'' Davydenko said. "Easier to be best of three every tournament.'

 

[Defcon]

He's an idiot. Best of 5 is whole different sport from best of 3.

 

[forzamilan90]

yeah I don't think that'll ever happen in the men's field

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Hey Nikolay, what do you think the "BETTING ODDS" are of that ever happening?

 

[AnotherTennisProdigy]

Only 5 events are best of 5 (some don't even play Davis Cup), I doubt it would make a huge change. Slams would also become a joke.

 

[Ronaldo]

Guys over 30 should play only best of 3 sets. Over 35, 3rd set tie-break, over 39, 8 game Pro-set. 45 and over, coin flip and a bowl of Maypo.

 

[spot]

Split the difference and do best of 3 prosets.

 

[Ronaldo]

Split the difference and do best of 3 prosets.

No ad, eh???

 

[BeGreat]

The reason men play 5 sets and women play 3 is because men are simply better, stronger, and physically more capable. Women are inferior, weaker, and physically handicapped. This is supported by the fact that men play 5 sets and women play 3 and no woman has ever said "let's play 5. we'll show them."

The reason men play 5 sets and women play 3 and get paid the same is because this is an unnecessarily politically correct society and men have become cowards. And idiots.

 

[Ronaldo]

The reason men play 5 sets and women play 3 is because men are simply better, stronger, and physically more capable. Women are inferior, weaker, and physically handicapped. This is supported by the fact that men play 5 sets and women play 3 and no woman has ever said "let's play 5. we'll show them."

The reason men play 5 sets and women play 3 and get paid the same is because this is an unnecessarily politically correct society and men have become cowards. And idiots.

There was a woman who played 5 and won.

 

[spot]

I really don't get the point of playing best of 5 sets before the fiinal. Who cares about watching a 5.5 hour match to make the quarterfinals!? Make it best of 3 sets and I think that TV ratings would go up considerably.

 

[Ronaldo]

I really don't get the point of playing best of 5 sets before the fiinal. Who cares about watching a 5.5 hour match to make the quarterfinals!? Make it best of 3 sets and I think that TV ratings would go up considerably.

The greatest day at the US Open went the limit. Greatest Davis Cup match went the limit. Bury Davydenko and his opinions.

 

[Bartelby]

It would prolong careers so I can see why its useful for the players.

I can't see any reasons for five sets at Davis Cup except maybe for the final, and the first week of slams may as well be three sets.

 

[Mustard]

The reason men play 5 sets and women play 3 is because men are simply better, stronger, and physically more capable. Women are inferior, weaker, and physically handicapped. This is supported by the fact that men play 5 sets and women play 3 and no woman has ever said "let's play 5. we'll show them."

The reason men play 5 sets and women play 3 and get paid the same is because this is an unnecessarily politically correct society and men have become cowards. And idiots.

What a load of misogynist nonsense.

Men and women should play best of 5 sets in the majors, and there should be equal prize money.

 

[Bartelby]

Women make tennis the most complete commercial sporting package in the world, so its not wise to forget that when discussing men's tennis.

 

[j-dog123]

hes just made because he lost his 2 set to love lead

 

[adventure]

I really don't get the point of playing best of 5 sets before the fiinal. Who cares about watching a 5.5 hour match to make the quarterfinals!? Make it best of 3 sets and I think that TV ratings would go up considerably.

This is the biggest point of contention for me. The superbowl is stretched out to 4 hours. But most football games clock in at around 3 to 3.5 hours. Baseball and basketball games are around 2.5 hours.

I don't watch men's matches in their entirety in the slams until the semi's and even then, I prefer to catch the concluding set, rather than sit through 4+ hours. I'll try to watch the men's finals match in it's entirety, but given how long it will likely be, I'll likely miss most of it and try to catch the end of it.

4-6 hour matches are just ridiculous.

 

[Tournament Player]

why not make it best of four, if it is two sets all they play a super tie-break or something like that

 

[Sid_Vicious]

Why not just play a 10 point tiebreaker?

 

[ramos77]

or if you lose a set, you take off your shorts

 

[jokinla]

Get in shape and quit crying Sally, sorry Davydenko.

 

[BeHappy]

Think about how much longer tennis careers could be. Instead of seeing players retired by 30 or well past their prime by then, we might get to see top players playing great tennis until 32 or 33, perhaps even a bit longer.

As a fan, watching a 4 or 5 or 6 hour match really tests my patience.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20120830/davydenko-three-sets-debate/?sct=obinsite

NEW YORK (AP) -- After blowing a two-set lead and losing to Mardy Fish in five at the U.S. Open on Thursday, Nikolay Davydenko offered a solution for avoiding that in the future: Men should play best-of-three-set matches at Grand Slam tournaments and in Davis Cup.

Davydenko, a 31-year-old Russian, revived a familiar debate, too, by asking during a postmatch interview with The Associated Press, "Why [do] girls play best of three sets, and we should play best of five sets, and have the same prize money?''

"Why are we playing five-set matches? We need to play best of three in Grand Slams. Everybody will support [that idea, even Roger] Federer. For Federer, it's easy to win in one hour, two sets. No need to run [for] a third set,'' Davydenko said.

Against the 23rd-seeded Fish, Davydenko faded over the last three sets and lost their second-round match 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.

It was the tournament-record 10th time this year at Flushing Meadows that a man dropped the first two sets before coming back for a victory. And it's only Day 4.

"For sure, you need to be strong physically for long matches,'' Davydenko said.

He suggested that all men's events, including Davis Cup, should be limited to three-set matches, the way most of the week-in, week-out ATP tournaments are.

"In Davis Cup, there are matches Friday, Saturday, Sunday - every day, five-set matches. Me? I am too tired for this,'' Davydenko said. "Easier to be best of three every tournament.'

He was probably joking. I don't know if you've ever heard Davydenko interviewed but the guy is ALWAYS joking. He's actually really funny.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

I really don't get the point of playing best of 5 sets before the fiinal. Who cares about watching a 5.5 hour match to make the quarterfinals!? Make it best of 3 sets and I think that TV ratings would go up considerably.

+1. Can you imagine watching a 5.5 hour 50 mile marathon on TV?

It would prolong careers so I can see why its useful for the players.

I can't see any reasons for five sets at Davis Cup except maybe for the final, and the first week of slams may as well be three sets.

+1

What a load of misogynist nonsense.

Men and women should play best of 5 sets in the majors, and there should be equal prize money.

Making people watch a 5.5 hour, 5 set match between Radwanska and Wozniacki would be cruel punishment.

 

[roberttennis54]

He was probably joking. I don't know if you've ever heard Davydenko interviewed but the guy is ALWAYS joking. He's actually really funny.

Yeh Davydenko is a funny guy, I doubt he was completely serious. Probably said it firmly tongue in cheek, because he was winning the first two sets. I've always liked Davydenko. One of my favourite players. Great game and crazily aggressive. It's hilarious his game was called boring and he was made out to be a pusher by commentators and fans alike.

 

[Tafmatch]

Agree with Dav although and I'm pretty certain it will be the future of tennis although it won't be happening anytime soon. Tennis is competing with a lot of sports and best-of-five isn't helping.

For hardcore tennisfans best of five can be great but even for them most of the time it's just boring. Think of the first week of a Grand Slam...
For more casual tennis fans best-of-five is just too much. I know a lot of people who sort of like like tennis and watch all kind of sports, but no-one even thinks of watching a best-of-five match from start to finish. Maybe when Fed plays Nadal or Djoko, but that's about it.

Best of three works a lot better on tv. You can watch many more matches, see more players in action, different playing styles, faster matches. There really is no drawback.

 

[BevelDevil]

why not make it best of four, if it is two sets all they play a super tie-break or something like that

Yup. Although for those who want shorter matches, this won't affect the length of a typical match.

 

[Zarfot Z]

Of course Davydenko would opt for a best of two set match. His level tends to drop as the match progresses.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

It would prolong careers so I can see why its useful for the players.

I can't see any reasons for five sets at Davis Cup except maybe for the final, and the first week of slams may as well be three sets.

WHAT?

 

[millicurie999]

For any 5-setter

 

[Danny_G13]

I'm going to ask the obvious question; why DO men play best of 5 in slams and nowhere else (bar Olympic final)?

 

[rainingaces]

The wta should have their slam event held seperatly from the atp so they can pay their players from seperate gates and televison rights.

Women playing 5 set matches would be a huge turn off for alot of fans i know i would not watch. The best players wouldnt necessarily win over fitter players, add to that half of the tour would be out with cramp.

 

[BeGreat]

What a load of misogynist nonsense.

Men and women should play best of 5 sets in the majors, and there should be equal prize money.

what part of that is misogynist??? You can't just say that and get away with it. explain it. Criticizing women and their inferior abilities in certain aspects of life is not misogynistic.

 

[RF-17-GOAT]

That's bullcr@p.

 

[papertank]

LOL of course Davydenko wants that. Guy never made a slam semi if I remember correctly.

Comebacks from 0-2 or 1-2 down are awesome and part of the reason grand slams are so epic. Don't take that away from us.

 

[Zebrev]

If they sped up the balls/courts and didn't play so many long rallies from the baseline then players wouldn't get so exhausted and matches would be a lot quicker. The problem is that by the 4th/5th set, players do all they can to slow the game down. I don't think I have watched a single match of the US Open where players weren't routinely taking comfort breaks or call the trainer for medical timeout.

 

[ibbi]

Easier to fix shorter matches.

 

[fps]

what part of that is misogynist??? You can't just say that and get away with it. explain it. Criticizing women and their inferior abilities in certain aspects of life is not misogynistic.

The way you're speaking, and the language you're using, suggests a deeply misogynistic worldview. It's in the imprecision of your language as well, a generalisation like "men are simply better" suggests a lack of forethought and incorrect mindset.