Tennis star criticizes Novak Djokovic’s ‘absurd’ new rule idea ahead of Cincinnati Open
Novak Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles, recently sparked some debate with an idea to change tennis quite a bit.
Right now, Djokovic is getting ready for his match in the Cincinnati Open against Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante later today (August 15). This is his first tournament since Wimbledon in July. He skipped the Washington Open and Canadian Open earlier in the North American hard-court season but plans to play in the US Open starting August 30. Djokovic is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam, his first since winning the US Open in 2023.
Before the Cincinnati Open even begins, Djokovic has already got fans, experts, and former players talking by suggesting some big changes to how tennis is played. The 39-year-old thinks sets should only be four games long, not six, and he wants to get rid of the tie-break system too. He told Nick Knows Ball, “We need to change the scoring system. Sets should go to four games, not six. I’d also remove the advantage rule. If Grand Slam matches stayed best-of-five, they’d last around two hours, which would be better for everyone.”
To explain a bit: in ATP Tour matches, players usually have to win six games by at least two games to take a set. If it’s tied 6-6, they play a tie-break to seven points, winning by two. Most matches are best-of-three sets, so winning two sets means winning the match. Grand Slams are a bit different since they play best-of-five sets, meaning a player needs to win three sets to win.
Djokovic’s idea has gotten a mix of reactions. Two-time Grand Slam winner Yevgeny Kafelnikov called it “absurd” and said he’d be very disappointed if the change happened. Former French player Julien Benneteau also didn’t agree. He said, “Sure, starting games might get more exciting, but will we have 10-minute football matches too? Tennis is about the drama that builds up over sets. Shortening them like this is just giving in to how people want faster sports these days. Do we really want 15-minute sets?”
On the other hand, not everyone is against the idea. Ben Shelton, currently ranked fifth, said it “could be cool.” Speaking at the Canadian Open, the American said, “It’s interesting, especially coming from Novak, since he’s known for his fitness and lasting hours on the court. But it would be an interesting change. Tennis is traditional, and tournaments like to keep that, but I’d like to try playing some matches that way.”
So, it looks like the conversation about changing tennis scoring is just getting started!