‘I am all in favor of five-set matches for women’, says former Australian Open Champion Amelie Mauresmo


‘I am all in favor of five-set matches for women’, says former Australian Open Champion Amelie Mauresmo
Amelie Mauresmo

Changing game format is something that has been a hot-button issue in men’s tennis. Many high-profile players and pundits have called for a change in the format of the game in the Grand Slam from five sets to three sets.

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World No.1 Novak Djokovic is by far the biggest proponent of this change. Now, former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo is advocating for change in women’s format. The French star threw her support behind the idea of changing the Grand Slam format for women’s tennis from three setters to five setters.

Mauresmo is a former French player who retired from professional tennis in 2009. Mauresmo reached the World No.1 ranking in 2004, and has won two Grand Slams tournaments in her career. She claimed the Australian Open and Wimbledon Championship in 2006.

After her retirement, Mauresmo collaborated with Viktoria Azarenka (in coaching consultant capacity), and then Marion Bartoli (2013), Andy Murray (2014–2016) and Lucas Pouille (2018-2020) as a coach.

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It would take women’s tennis to another level: Mauresmo on five set Grand Slam for women

Amelie Mauresmo

Amelie Mauresmo spoke to Eurosport France regarding her support for changing WTA Grand Slam to five setter matches. “I’m all for it,” she told.

Mauresmo continues, “I am absolutely in favor. I am in favor of the fact that women play five sets, initially for the Grand Slam finals.”

The Frenchwomen explained her support for this change, and cited that five set finals will make matches more interesting. “There are often one-sided finals. I think it would allow the players to get into the finals a little better and offer something else. And why not then expand it in semi-finals etc?” Mauresmo explains.

The 41-year old concluded her thought by saying, “It would take women’s tennis to another level.”

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