Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Alcaraz backs five-set Grand Slams, urges lighter tennis calendar
Carlos Alcaraz wants the biggest tennis tournaments to keep their traditional five-set matches.
He says this format makes Grand Slams special.
Some people have suggested shorter matches to reduce players’ workload.
Alcaraz believes the better solution is to schedule fewer tournaments.
He also wants to avoid matches finishing very late at night.
His view follows a US Open match that ended at 3:33 a.m.
The Grand Slams have created a council to discuss players’ concerns.
Reports say some leading players are on the council, but its membership has not been officially announced.
Tennis officials have also discussed possible changes while saying five-set matches remain important.
Carlos Alcaraz said Grand Slam men’s matches should remain best-of-five sets.
He argued shortening matches would damage the legacy and distinctiveness of the four majors.
Alcaraz called for a lighter 11-month calendar with fewer tournaments played consecutively.
The debate intensified after his US Open quarter-final ended at 3:33 a.m.
A newly formed Player Advisory Council is intended to address player welfare and compensation concerns.
- Who
- Carlos Alcaraz, tennis Grand Slam organizers, player representatives and governing bodies.
- What
- Alcaraz backed retaining best-of-five-set Grand Slam matches while calling for a less crowded tour calendar.
- When
- He made the comments Wednesday at the Japan Open; the debate intensified after last month’s US Open.
- Where
- At the Japan Open in Tokyo, following concerns raised at the US Open.
- Why
- Alcaraz said five-set matches protect the majors’ legacy, while reducing the number of consecutive tournaments could ease player workload and late finishes.
Preserve traditional Grand Slam tennis
Shorten matches or reform scheduling
Match format
Preserve traditional Grand Slam tennis
Alcaraz says best-of-five matches make the four Grand Slams different and special and should not be changed.
Shorten matches or reform scheduling
Novak Djokovic has proposed best-of-three matches in early Grand Slam rounds, while Andrew Abdo said alternative formats or scoring systems could be explored.
Solution to player workload
Preserve traditional Grand Slam tennis
Alcaraz argues the Grand Slam format should remain intact and that the crowded calendar should be reduced instead.
Shorten matches or reform scheduling
Supporters of format changes focus on shorter matches as one possible way to address workload, late finishes and scheduling demands.
Calendar responsibility
Preserve traditional Grand Slam tennis
Alcaraz says players should compete in fewer tournaments and avoid playing events week after week.
Shorten matches or reform scheduling
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has said scheduling remains the players’ choice and that the tour is working on incentives to produce an appropriate number of matches.
- Alcaraz’s ranking
- World number three, according to the article.
- Preferred Grand Slam format
- Best-of-five sets for men’s matches.
- Recent late finish
- Alcaraz’s US Open quarter-final ended at 3:33 a.m.
- Calendar concern
- Alcaraz wants fewer tournaments played consecutively across the 11-month season.
- Player council
- The four Grand Slams have formed a Player Advisory Council focused on welfare and compensation concerns.
- Reported council members
- Media reports say Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka are involved; membership has not been formally announced.
- Australian Open position
- The tournament said five-set tennis was “here to stay,” while promising more information ahead of 2027.