Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set Australian Open final, prompting tournament director Craig Tiley to advocate for best-of-five sets in women's matches. Tiley praised the match's intensity and suggested implementing the change by 2027. The proposal revives long-standing debates in the sport.
The 2026 Australian Open women's final captivated fans at Rod Laver Arena, where fifth seed Elena Rybakina overcame world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to claim her first Melbourne title and second major overall. The match, held on Saturday, followed intense men's semifinals on Friday: Carlos Alcaraz outlasted Alexander Zverev in five hours and 27 minutes, while Novak Djokovic defeated Jannik Sinner in four hours and nine minutes.
Tournament director Craig Tiley, inspired by the final's drama, called it "unbelievable" and pushed for women's Grand Slam matches to adopt a best-of-five-set format. "One of the things I’ve been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women," Tiley told AAP. He proposed reviewing recent quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final to justify the shift, potentially starting in 2027. Tiley noted the Australian Open's flexibility to experiment without Grand Slam committee approval, emphasizing consultation with players.
Historical precedents include a 1994 plan for a best-of-five women's final at the Australian Open, which was abandoned after opposition led by Steffi Graf. From 1984 to 1998, the WTA Finals featured best-of-five finals, but the format later reverted to three sets. Equal prize money at majors has fueled ongoing discussions.
Sabalenka, despite the loss, remains world No. 1 for 75 weeks and opposes the change. "It is too demanding for the female body; women are not prepared to play that amount of tennis, and injuries would increase significantly," she said. Tennis legend Billie Jean King supports longer matches for more content, stating, "I think the women should play 3 out of 5 sets, or everyone should play 2 out of 3."
The debate continues as stakeholders weigh physical demands against entertainment value.