Novak Djokovic has won more Grand Slams than any other player in Open Era history, dominating at the sport’s biggest tournaments.
In 2008, Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final of the Australian Open.
15 years later, Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev to win the 2023 US Open, taking his Grand Slam tally to 24, the most of any player in the history of the men’s game.
Few players could compete with Djokovic in the best-of-five set format used at Grand Slam events, as he continues to reach the latter stages of majors, aged 38.
However, as the debate around best-of-three and best-of-five set matches rages on, one former major finalist has said whether he thinks Djokovic would have won more or fewer Grand Slams if the tournaments used the shorter format.
Luke Saville doesn’t think Novak Djokovic would have won 24 Slams if the format was best-of-three
During the latest edition of ‘The Tennis’ podcast, 2020 Australian Open doubles finalist Luke Saville shared his thoughts on the differences between best-of-three and best-of-five set matches.
“You hear everyone say, for example, beating Rafa [Nadal] in best of three sets on clay is possibly doable, best of five at the French Open, pretty much impossible,” he said.
“[Novak] Djokovic as well, I don’t think he would have had 24 Slams [in best-of-three], you can go on and on, these guys are so good over five.
“You have to pace yourself a little bit, my first couple of best-of-fives I was jogging out of the chair, sprinting, ripping come ons in the first set, and I cramped by the third set, you have to learn to pace yourself, it’s a different way of going about it.”
Saville was reacting to Jessica Pegula’s comments about the format, where she claimed best-of-five matches were easier to win than best-of-three matches.
“Yeah, I sort of agree with what she’s saying. It’s 100% a different mentality going into a best-of-five than a best-of-three,” said Saville.
“You feel like you can lose the first set in a best-of-five and your opponent still has got two to win.
“Watching that match the other night, Dasha [Saville], my wife said when [Jessica] Pegula was down a set and a break, if this match was best of five, Pegula would have a very good chance to win this one, and sure enough, in her press conference, she said that.”
The 31-year-old continued to agree with Pegula as he questioned whether the men should start playing best-of-three.
“I think the best of five it’s definitely a tradition in the Grand Slams, a lot of people will say that, I sort of agree that it’s pretty long, I think the physicality and the mental aspect are amazing, but it’s a long time,” said Saville.
“I think, exactly what she’s saying is spot on, the women don’t need to play five, if anything, the men [should] come back to best of three.
“If it was best of three, I would never have qualified for Wimbledon, so I’m definitely a bit biased. But it would change a lot.”
Jaimee Fourlis says she has always wanted to play best-of-five set matches
Another player with Grand Slam experience, Jaimee Fourlis, a runner-up in the Australian Open mixed doubles event three years ago, claimed she has always wanted to play longer matches.
“I agree with Luke [Saville], but my personal opinion, I’ve always wanted to play best-of-five, so I think it would be cool to have the opportunity to do it,” she said.
“But mentally, physically, I think it would be quite tough, knowing how long my matches go for. It would be quite boring by the end of it.
“I think also, the lower-ranked players who are beating the high-ranked players, they aren’t able to back up another win, and I think that is a part of it.
“You see a lot of these girls kind of beat higher-ranked players where they can play for 60 minutes lights out, but then not be able to back it up again, I think that’s where in a five-set match, someone who is high ranked would be able to overcome that…”
We likely won’t see a change of format in the men’s or women’s game any time soon, but it’s certainly interesting to hear different opinions on the topic.
