Five-set tennis under attack — ending it would be a 'colossal unforced error', columnist warns

Tuesday’s marathon quarter-final at the US Open reignited debate over whether men’s grand slam matches should remain best-of-five. While five-setters are gruelling and can produce logistical headaches, they also create the drama many consider essential to the slams.

Late-night thriller reignites the debate

Tuesday night’s quarter-final between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz delivered many of the ingredients of a classic grand slam encounter: high stakes, razor-edge tension and a dramatic finish in favour of the American. The match, however, stretched far into the small hours—the first ball was not struck until 11:05pm and Shelton’s match-clinching ace came at 3:33am after 4 hours 28 minutes on court, making it the latest-ending US Open match on record by 43 minutes.

The scheduling question

The late finish prompted swift discussion among fans and commentators about tournament scheduling and the practicality of retaining best-of-five formats for men. Critics point to the physical toll on players, the strain on broadcasters and the potential for matches to extend into unsuitable hours for spectators and officials. The USTA’s scheduling on the night was singled out by some as a contributing factor to the unusually late conclusion.

What five sets deliver

Supporters of the traditional format argue that long, five-set matches are central to what makes grand slams distinctive. Extended contests can produce memorable comebacks, test endurance and mental resilience, and often elevate the significance of victory. A column in The Guardian described proposals to abandon the format as a mistake, saying that doing so would be a "colossal unforced error" that risks diminishing the spectacle and historical character of the slams.

The trade-offs ahead

Any change to match length involves trade-offs: shorter matches could ease scheduling pressures and reduce player fatigue, but would also remove an element that many fans and purists see as intrinsic to grand slam tennis. Organisers, governing bodies, broadcasters and players will need to weigh the competing priorities of player welfare, commercial considerations and tradition if the debate continues.

Outlook

The Shelton–Alcaraz match has added fresh urgency to a debate that resurfaces whenever the slams produce marathon encounters. For now, five-set matches remain a defining feature of men’s grand slam tennis, but the episode underlines that questions about format, scheduling and player welfare will persist as the sport seeks to balance spectacle with practical constraints.