Australian Open Chief Proposes Longer Women's Matches

Following a competitive women's singles final at the Australian Open, Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has voiced a desire to extend the duration of women's matches.

The recent final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina lasted two hours and 18 minutes. Tiley expressed interest in seeing longer women's matches, particularly during the latter stages of the tournament, potentially as early as next year. He drew a comparison to the longer duration of recent men's semifinal matches.

Suggestion: Three Out of Five Sets

Tiley explicitly outlined his vision for extending these matches.

Tiley stated to AAP that he believes women's matches should consist of three out of five sets, specifically suggesting this format for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals of the women's draw.

Implementation and Player Consultation

While this would be a significant shift, Tiley believes the Australian Open has the autonomy to implement such a change. He mentioned that it could be introduced independently of other Grand Slam tournaments and the WTA.

A target year for this potential implementation is 2027, with Tiley noting that no current rules prohibit such a modification. He underscored the critical need for extensive consultation with players before any changes are made. The concept of longer women's matches has previously garnered support from prominent athletes, including Serena Williams.