In the growing debate over best-of-five-set Grand Slam matches for women—sparked by Elena Rybakina's 2026 Australian Open final win and backed by Elina Svitolina—Novak Djokovic has voiced strong reservations, calling them a 'whole different animal' due to extreme physical and mental demands.
Craig Tiley's proposal to implement best-of-five sets from quarterfinals at majors, potentially starting in 2027, has elicited mixed responses from players.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, with nearly 500 best-of-five matches, advised against it for women. 'I don’t recommend [it]' (smiling), Djokovic told The Times of India, elaborating: 'It feels like when you’re preparing for a Grand Slam... it feels like you’re preparing for something completely different... different physical preparation and mental preparation.'
He highlighted the endurance of matches lasting three to six hours, citing his record in the longest Grand Slam final: the 2012 Australian Open vs. Rafael Nadal (5 hours 53 minutes). More recently, his 2024 AO semi-final win over Jannik Sinner lasted four hours nine minutes.
Djokovic stressed recovery challenges, noting slower recuperation now versus 2012 after marathons. 'Just gruelling. I mean, incredibly gruelling and demanding,' he said. With daily matches in Slams, extended formats amplify physical exhaustion and mental strain deeper into tournaments, differing from regular tours.