Jessica Pegula’s coach Mark Knowles has proposed a big change to best-of-five set tennis matches.
Best-of-five set matches have been a big topic of conversation ever since the CEO of Tennis Australia, Andrew Abdo, suggested that the Australian Open could make changes to the longer format.
This has received some pushback, with the likes of Frances Tiafoe defending best-of-five set tennis in its current format.
Knowles also appears to want to keep best-of-five tennis, but he has suggested a change to the scoring system to help speed things up.
Photo by Susan Mullane/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
Knowles, who is a retired four-time Grand Slam doubles champion, has been coaching world number three WTA player Pegula since early 2024.
Joining the current discussion about best-of-five set tennis on social media, Knowles suggested that Grand Slams should keep the longer format but without Ad-scoring.
“I don’t normally weigh in on social media,” Knowles began on X. “There is always going to be great discussions on the BO5 (Best-of-five) format in Slams. Tennis is always a delicate balance between the historical past and what we perceive the future of tennis looks like.
“I have always felt for the last 10 years that the future is BO5 with no-Ad scoring. The only difference is that the server would have the choice.
“Andy [Roddick] and I first discussed this about 10 years ago and thought that server having the choice could make it a little less arbitrary than the receiver having the choice as it is in men’s doubles on the ATP Tour!
“Either way let’s unite and give a big shout out to these incredible athletes and thank them for providing this insane level of entertainment!”
Knowles is not the only former player to have made this proposal, with former world number one Jim Courier also suggesting this change to Grand Slams.
While it is Knowles who has made the proposal to best-of-five tennis on this occasion, Pegula has also offered some strong thoughts on the topic in the past.
When Pegula was asked if she would want to play best-of-five set matches at Wimbledon last year, she was clear that she did not want to.
Not because of the physical exertion that it would take, but instead Pegula admitted that she loses interest in these longer matches.
Would I want to play three-out-of-five? No,” Pegula told press at the time. “I would rather the men play two-out-of-three (smiling). I don’t think we all need to start playing three-out-of-five.
“For me it’s too long. I personally lose interest watching the matches. I think they’re incredible matches and incredible physically and mentally. I’m, like, Do we really need that? I don’t know. I mean, some people love it.
“I personally will not watch a full five-hour match. People can’t even hold their attention long enough they say these days with phones. How are they holding their attention for five hours? I don’t know. Just not my thing.”
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Pegula reached the semi-finals at the US Open this year, but her bid for an elusive Grand Slam title came to an end after being beaten by Aryna Sabalenka.
Both Pegula and Knowles will now have over a week away from any tournaments before the former is scheduled to return to competition at the Singapore Open, where Alex Eala is also playing.
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