"I'm not ready to play five sets": Aryna Sabalenka defends three-set format at Grand Slams

Tuesday, 01 July 2025 at 17:20

Aryna Sabalenka speaks on possibility of women playing five sets at Grand Slams – but the world No.1 believes not even she is ready for that demand. The world No. 1 starts her campaing in Wimbledon with a straight set victory against Carson Branstine.

Unlike most tournaments, where men often receive higher prize money than women, Grand Slam events have long maintained prize-money parity for each round. However, men still play five sets and women only three, and the debate over whether women should also play five-set matches in Majors resurfaces regularly.

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Still, among female players, there’s not much interest in extending the format. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka recently commented on the possibility after a comfortable Wimbledon first-round win over Carson Branstine, 6-1, 7-5.

“Probably physically I’m one of the strongest ones, so maybe it would benefit me. But I think I’m not ready to play five sets,” Sabalenka said after her first round victory. “I think it’s too much on the woman's body. I think we’re not ready for this amount of tennis. I think it would increase the amount of injuries. So I think this is not something I would consider."

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“For someone watching, it’s amazing to see five hours of great tennis,” Sabalenka added. “But I’m not really jealous to stay there for five hours as a player. I don’t know how many days they needed to recover after that crazy match.”

“It would favor me just from a physicality standpoint. But I do think it would kind of be a big change for the tour. I think it would be fine just keeping it like how it is,” the American said.

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The 3-time Grand Slam champion will play the second round on Tuesday against Czech Marie Bouzková. The 26-year-old had a strong debut, eliminating Lulu Sun – last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinalist. In their three previous matches, Sabalenka leads the H2H 2-1.

Vamos vamos vamos! 💪

A flying start for @SabalenkaA on her return to #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/7yOxvnq4ZQ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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