Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has ignited a significant conversation about the future of women's tennis at the grand slam level, suggesting the possibility of extending the best-of-five-set format to the women's singles competition. This proposal comes in the wake of the extraordinary success and drama witnessed during the epic men's semi-final night in Melbourne, which captivated global audiences.
Historic Matches Spark Format Discussion
Tiley revealed that women may be asked to compete in five-set matches from the quarter-finals onwards as early as next year, but emphasised that any change would only proceed with the explicit blessing of the players themselves. The tournament reached fever pitch on Friday with two monumental contests that showcased the very best of men's tennis.
First, world number one Carlos Alcaraz outlasted Alexander Zverev in an incredible five-hour, twenty-seven-minute marathon filled with tension and drama. This was followed by ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic defeating two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in a classic four-hour, nine-minute second semi-final that will be remembered for years to come.
Women's Final Demonstrates Potential
Tiley believes Elena Rybakina's compelling three-set triumph over world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday night's final also showcased what female stars can offer tennis fans. He floated the idea of extending women's matches to try to create similar theatrical experiences for spectators.
"You can't replicate that men's semi-final day. That was amazing," Tiley told AAP on Sunday while declaring the 2026 Open as "probably the biggest and best event ever." "I'm still getting chills just thinking about it, and then you can't replicate that final last night on the women's side. It was unbelievable."
Proposal for Quarter-Finals Onwards
The tournament director outlined his vision for potential format changes, suggesting that women's matches could move to best-of-five sets specifically in the later rounds of the competition.
"One of the things I've been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women. We should look at the last few matches - the quarters and the semis and the finals - and make the women's side three out of five," Tiley explained.
"So it's something we should put on the agenda and start talking to the players about it because there's some matches in those last rounds which would have been fascinating had they been three out of five sets. Now I don't know whether the players would want to do it or not, but it is something we need to consider on the women's side."
Historical Context and Player Consultation
Just as the four different majors in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York all have different deciding-set tiebreak formats, Tiley noted that the Australian Open would not need approval from the grand slam committee to change the number of sets women play. However, he stressed the importance of thorough consultation with athletes.
"Certainly if we're going to do it and we think it's the right thing, we'll definitely go in 2027," he stated. "So there's nothing in the rules stopping that from happening. But we need to do it with really deep consultation with the players."
This is not the first time such a proposal has been considered. In 1994, Australian Open officials announced the women's final the following year would be best of five sets, but Steffi Graf led a pushback from players and the plan was ultimately scrapped. Additionally, from 1984 to 1998, the title match at the WTA's season-ending championship was contested as a best-of-five set match before that format was also discontinued.
Equal Prize Money Considerations
With women now receiving equal prize money with men at all four grand slams, the argument for both singles draws to feature best-of-five-set tennis continues to generate passionate discussion within the tennis community. This proposal raises important questions about physical demands, scheduling, and competitive fairness in the modern game.
Tournament Format Changes Confirmed
Tiley also confirmed that the 20-day Australian Open format is here to stay following this year's success. The Saturday night opening ceremony featured tennis legends including Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Ash Barty, Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter after a week of qualifying and exhibition matches, as well as the hugely popular million-dollar one-point slam event.
The tournament director did not rule out a Saturday start in future years, but indicated this would likely only occur if women's matches in the later rounds moved to five sets, allowing for appropriate scheduling adjustments.
Future Developments and Speculation
In other developments, Tiley declined to speculate on reports suggesting he might be heading to the United States Tennis Association (USTA), maintaining his focus on the Australian Open's future. He also revealed that tournament organisers would consider tweaking the qualifying event and potentially adding wildcards for next year's competition.
As tennis continues to evolve and adapt to changing audience expectations and player capabilities, this proposal represents one of the most significant potential format changes in women's tennis in decades. The coming months will reveal whether players, officials, and fans are ready to embrace this new chapter in the sport's history.
