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World number one Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday voiced her support for a proposal to make women\u2019s matches best-of-five sets during the later stages of Grand Slam tournaments.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking ahead of this week\u2019s ATP-WTA tournament in Indian Wells, the hard-hitting Sabalenka said she believed switching to five sets would benefit her game.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, let\u2019s do that,\u201d the four-time Grand Slam singles champion said when asked about the idea, which was floated by incoming US Tennis Association chief Craig Tiley at the Australian Open earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I would have probably more Grand Slams,\u201d Sabalenka added. \u201cPhysically I\u2019m really strong, and I\u2019m pretty confident that my body can handle that. So let\u2019s do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Tiley, the former head of the Australian Open who last week was named as the new USTA chief, told the New York Times in an interview last month that switching to five sets from the quarter-finals onwards at Grand Slams should be discussed.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the research shows interest grows as the match goes on,\u201d Tiley said. \u201cAs a sport, we need to evolve.\u201d<\/p>\n But while Sabalenka backed the move, other women players were more circumspect.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, it probably would favor me, because I\u2019m physically up there with the best, but I mean, I probably wouldn\u2019t want to see that happen,\u201d reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if it were to happen, I would prefer it to be the whole tournament, not just the quarters. I think changing the format in the middle of the tournament defeats the purpose of the playing field.\u201d<\/p>\n Six-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Iga Swiatek was firmly against the idea, and questioned the suggestion it would boost audiences.<\/p>\n \u201cI think honestly it\u2019s a weird approach in the world where everything is becoming faster, you know,\u201d Swiatek said. \u201cSo I don\u2019t know if the audience honestly would like that.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, I don\u2019t know if we would be able to keep the quality for five sets. Well, that\u2019s a fact, like, men are more physically strong and they can handle it for sure better.\u201d<\/p>\n Swiatek said the physical demands would also force players to adjust their schedules, potentially leading to them playing fewer tournaments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have never practiced in a way to prepare for that, so we would need to change, I think, our whole calendar, because the Grand Slams would be so tough that I don\u2019t think we would have honestly time to prepare for any other tournaments,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it would change a lot. I don\u2019t think it would change anything for good.\u201d<\/p>\n World number five Jessica Pegula echoed Swiatek\u2019s remarks, stating while five sets were well within the physical capabilities of women, a switch could be counter-productive.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we have amazing female athletes that honestly I think we could do that,\u201d the American said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s the fact that we can\u2019t; I just don\u2019t necessarily think that we should.<\/p>\n \u201cOn that aspect, I don\u2019t even know how you would schedule tournaments. We\u2019d have to add weeks. We can\u2019t even get through the schedule now. So I\u2019m not really sure for like a fan experience how that would really work.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n