Tennis legend and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has commented on the proposal for women tennis players to also compete in a five-set system.
İdman.Biz reports that during a press conference, Djokovic's response to Craig Tiley's proposal in January was short and to the point: "I wouldn't recommend it (laughs)."
The experienced tennis player noted that five-set matches require completely different preparation from athletes:
"Preparing for Grand Slam tournaments where five-set matches are played is a whole different world. It means preparing for a completely different tour, both physically and mentally. Because some matches can last 3, 4, 5, or even 6 hours."
Djokovic cited his own career as an example, recalling the impact of this intensity on the body:
"I played the longest final in history - our match against Nadal in Australia in 2012 lasted almost six hours. It's incredibly exhausting and difficult. I also recently fought Sinner for almost five hours. In 2012, my body recovered faster after such marathons than it does now. Even with a day's rest in between, it's very difficult to be ready for the next challenge after a 4-5 hour 'battle'. As you get closer to the end of the tournament, physical fatigue increases even more."
In Novak's opinion, the introduction of this system in women's tennis could pose serious risks to the health of athletes and the quality of the game.