Tennis rules question?

[ubermeyer]

Hi. I've been playing tennis for quite some time now, and watching it for even longer, so I am surprised that I do not know the answer to this question.

Recently, Serena Williams beat Elena Dementieva 6-7, 7-5, 8-6. Last year in the famous Wimbledon final, Fed lost to Nadal 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-9.

So, why does the final set (3rd for women, 5th for men in major tournaments) never have a tiebreaker? Do you keep playing until one person is 2 games ahead? So, could the final set have a score (in games) of, say, 99-97?

If you don't understand my question, please let me know.

 

[Carlomir]

It depends on the tournament. Some tournaments, like Wimbledon, have no tiebreak in the final set. So yes, it could go to 99-97, or even higher.

Other tournaments, like the US Open, use a tiebreaker at 6-all in the final set.

 

[JeMar]

Tie-breakers are a way of shortening a match, and while the U.S. Open likes the drama over a fifth-set tie-breaker, the other slams recognize the infinitely better drama of allowing the set to continue until someone breaks and holds serve. Also, not having a fifth-set tie-breaker also takes a lot of luck out of the equation. The better player will usually win if there are no tie-breakers, while lesser players can maybe get lucky and eek out a win.

I also think that television had a lot to do with the U.S. Open having a fifth-set tiebreaker. I think it's crap... advantage sets are so much more epic.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

The only slam that plays final set TB's is the US Open. All the other slams go by the win by two rule in the final sets. So yes, theoretically a match could go to 99-97 if no player is able to break and hold consecutively.

 

[woodrow1029]

Aus Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Davis Cup and Fed Cup use this format. The final set with no tiebreak is officially called an "Advantage Set."

 

[Tshooter]

"I also think that television had a lot to do with the U.S. Open having a fifth-set tiebreaker"

If a lot means everything then .... Bingo.

 

[Leublu tennis]

Aus Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Davis Cup and Fed Cup use this format. The final set with no tiebreak is officially called an "Advantage Set."

Also the 2008 Summer Olympics.

 

[Leublu tennis]

O.K. the next question is, did any other tournament use the no tiebreak last set? I think that was a case for a while, or am I wrong and tiebreak has been used in all but the three slams since Jimmy Van Alen's days?