McEnroe backs Djokovic’s call for shorter tennis matches
John McEnroe has backed Novak Djokovic’s controversial argument for shorter tennis matches, claiming the sport must respond to changing audience habits, reports BritPanorama.
Djokovic ignited a fierce debate last month by proposing a radical overhaul that would replace traditional six-game sets with sets decided over four games. The Serbian also suggested abolishing the advantage rule when games reach deuce, with matches instead contested over the best of five shortened sets.
“Sets should not be played up to six games,” Djokovic stated, advocating for a new format: “I believe that a set should be played up to four games, with the possible abolition of the ‘advantage’ rule at 40:40. Matches would be played until someone wins three such shortened sets. That way, matches would not last longer than two hours, which, in my opinion, is best for everyone.”
The proposal attracted significant reactions throughout the sport, prompting players, pundits and supporters to question whether such a dramatic change would undermine one of tennis’s defining traditions. Brazilian youngster Joao Fonseca seemed to mock Djokovic’s suggestion, yet the 24-time Grand Slam champion received support from McEnroe.
The American believes tennis must recognise that many modern viewers are unwilling to remain engaged throughout matches lasting several hours. “People’s attention spans are shorter than ever,” McEnroe reflected. However, he also raised an intriguing contradiction in Djokovic’s position, noting, “But Novak has won so much precisely because he was able to last longer than others.”
McEnroe continued, stating, “He was fitter than anyone had ever been and won matches that lasted five hours or more. He was much harder to beat in best-of-five-set matches than in best-of-three-set matches.”
Despite voicing his support for parts of Djokovic’s proposal, McEnroe did not endorse every aspect. He suggested introducing a match tie-break if Grand Slam contests reach two sets all, eliminating the need for a conventional deciding set. “For Grand Slams, I would recommend a match tie-break when the score is two sets all, rather than a full fifth set,” he concluded.
The debate surrounding match length comes as Djokovic faces renewed questions over his ability to withstand the demands of the professional tour, having revealed struggles with a health issue before his latest US Open campaign—a problem that appeared to affect him during his first-round defeat. Shortening match length could potentially reduce physical strain and recovery time for Djokovic as he seeks to navigate the latter stages of his career. Nevertheless, tennis chiefs have yet to indicate any openness to implementing his suggestions.
In an era where entertainment values often take precedence, Djokovic’s push for shorter formats reflects the ongoing challenge in balancing tradition with the evolving preferences of a new generation of fans.
