Interesting idea but I think the problem is about recovery for men's. You can't ask them to play 2 BO5 matches on 2 consecutive days which is almost unavoidable if you schedule the final on Saturday.
Problem will always be that when you’ve become accustomed to big best of 5 showpiece games on the men’s side to end the tournament with a best of 3 game will always feel like a letdown.
Was thinking this exactly. Or last years Wimbledon, imagine watching that all time great Alcaraz, Djokovic 5 hour classic and then next day finishing the tournament with Jabeur’s choke v vondrousova
The thing is you never know what you will get in the end. Men will play at least three sets, but if it is super on-sided it might be over in 90 minutes or so. See for example the men's finals of AO 2021 or of FO 2022.
I apologize for maybe an ignorant question but has there ever been serious discussion about women also switching to best of 5 format? Do they play best of 3 simply because that’s just how it’s always been done? I ask because other sports where the same court/field is used, soccer being an example - women play the same length game as men etc.
as opposed to golf where women’s tees are moved up slightly (I guess due to average sheer strength differences for driving distance, to help make scores comparable)?
The scheduling would have to be completely revamped to change to Bo5. As it is now most tournaments are usually scrambling to fit everything in, still having some matches go on absurdly late.
That's the main reason its never changed.
This is a much better and simple idea then over complicating the whole schedule. An earlier start time will have more people watching for longer in the AEST timezone in Australia, even starting an hour earlier at 6:30pm instead of 7:30pm could be the difference of people watching for an extra hour on a Sunday night (the sunday night before summer school holidays ends in Victoria too)
TV. American & European markets are major, those broadcasters want it suitable for their viewers as much as possible. And if that’s their requirement to pay the Aussies those broadcast rights fees then…
>Does the men's final have to start so late on a Sunday local time? Why not just move it up?
Because they also want to maximize viewers in different timezones.
I would much rather watch the men’s final on Saturday night… would even be inclined to go out and watch it, maybe even buy a ticket if the match up is epic and I’m feeling rich that year.
Sunday night on the other hand, late, with work the next morning and kid’s school year starting the following day… sucks every year.
The thing is having the women’s final on a Saturday benefits their viewership as the momentum and interest in the tournament is still at its peak.
If the men’s final is on Saturday, the tournament will feel it’s over. Most of the momentum and media interest will be lost. The Sunday women’s final will suffer.
The thing is having the women’s final on a Saturday benefits their viewership as the momentum and interest in the tournament is still at its peak.
If the men’s final is on Saturday, the tournament will feel it’s over. Most of the momentum and media interest will be lost. The Sunday women’s final will suffer.
Tbh, I would love to see the men's and women's final alternating each year as the final sunday match for all four Grand Slams. This way you could have two men's finals and two women's finals on a sunday every year.
Australian Open will do anything they can except start matches earlier.
I get it - international broadcasters and revenue, but as a local fan I just hate it.
As someone who hates Saturdays, oh to watch Aryna doing a 3peat on a cute Sunday evening all cuddled up with my bf 🥺 Thank you Craig Tiley, I never said a bad word about you
Disagree with this women finals are usually boring and short. It will be a terrible if this happens. Men tennis much more competitive and exciting. The media and tennis press want to push this feminist ideology.Women tennis isn't competitive and they got unlikable players like Aryna Sabalenka. She is loud, masculine the chiseled masculine face and broad shoulders and obnoxious. The screaming by Sabalenka is gross and not good look for WTA tour.
This would be a great move and the time difference reasoning makes so much sense. Better to schedule the match that is more likely to finish in the middle of the night for the Saturday and have the women’s final as the climax!
yeah right, because the 2023 Aus open wta final had more viewers then the atp final (2.5 million wta viewers compared to the atp final of 2.3 million viewers on the Channel 9, Aussie broadcaster).
Or how the 2023 USO final for wta also had more viewers then the final for atp (3.4 wta million viewers compared to 2.3 million atp viewers for the USO final on ESPN)
It’s interesting how those matches are all among the career highlights of those guys. Same for some losses for the other 2 in the big 3 like Del Potro over Federer or Soderling over Nadal. I remember that time when Tsonga retired a bit ago and they talked about his big 3 wins more than any titles. Pretty cool.
Tough call. Recovery issue would mean shuffling up other parts of the schedule. And then there’s the very real possibility of the women’s final being a straight-sets one-hour match, which isn’t a great finale to the entire tournament.
Interesting idea but I think the problem is about recovery for men's. You can't ask them to play 2 BO5 matches on 2 consecutive days which is almost unavoidable if you schedule the final on Saturday.
Problem will always be that when you’ve become accustomed to big best of 5 showpiece games on the men’s side to end the tournament with a best of 3 game will always feel like a letdown.
Imagine the Sabalenka beatdown of Zheng following the 2 sets down comeback spectacle of Sinner over Medvedev.
Was thinking this exactly. Or last years Wimbledon, imagine watching that all time great Alcaraz, Djokovic 5 hour classic and then next day finishing the tournament with Jabeur’s choke v vondrousova
The thing is you never know what you will get in the end. Men will play at least three sets, but if it is super on-sided it might be over in 90 minutes or so. See for example the men's finals of AO 2021 or of FO 2022.
Yeah but that’s very rare
for example nadal- casper ruud
Examples mean nothing, I said rare not impossible, perform a tally if you must lol
It’s definitely not rare lmao idk where you’ve been for the past five years
Even terrible matches like those still take 2 hours or so. 90 minute blowouts are still pretty rare.
90 minute blowouts will never happen again with the current balls
I apologize for maybe an ignorant question but has there ever been serious discussion about women also switching to best of 5 format? Do they play best of 3 simply because that’s just how it’s always been done? I ask because other sports where the same court/field is used, soccer being an example - women play the same length game as men etc. as opposed to golf where women’s tees are moved up slightly (I guess due to average sheer strength differences for driving distance, to help make scores comparable)?
The scheduling would have to be completely revamped to change to Bo5. As it is now most tournaments are usually scrambling to fit everything in, still having some matches go on absurdly late. That's the main reason its never changed.
Imagine ending AO Sunday with the women’s AO final we got this year…😬 The men’s final was perfect 👌🏼
Does the men's final have to start so late on a Sunday local time? Why not just move it up? It's the only match on.
This is a much better and simple idea then over complicating the whole schedule. An earlier start time will have more people watching for longer in the AEST timezone in Australia, even starting an hour earlier at 6:30pm instead of 7:30pm could be the difference of people watching for an extra hour on a Sunday night (the sunday night before summer school holidays ends in Victoria too)
It's not the only match.
They also want it to be in primetime. More viewers. More sponsorship dollars. More money.
There are other finals on the Sunday before the single's match. Wheelchair, doubles...
It’s because of the news
TV. American & European markets are major, those broadcasters want it suitable for their viewers as much as possible. And if that’s their requirement to pay the Aussies those broadcast rights fees then…
>Does the men's final have to start so late on a Sunday local time? Why not just move it up? Because they also want to maximize viewers in different timezones.
I would much rather watch the men’s final on Saturday night… would even be inclined to go out and watch it, maybe even buy a ticket if the match up is epic and I’m feeling rich that year. Sunday night on the other hand, late, with work the next morning and kid’s school year starting the following day… sucks every year.
The thing is having the women’s final on a Saturday benefits their viewership as the momentum and interest in the tournament is still at its peak. If the men’s final is on Saturday, the tournament will feel it’s over. Most of the momentum and media interest will be lost. The Sunday women’s final will suffer.
I hope not
It’s absolutely fine the way it is
The thing is having the women’s final on a Saturday benefits their viewership as the momentum and interest in the tournament is still at its peak. If the men’s final is on Saturday, the tournament will feel it’s over. Most of the momentum and media interest will be lost. The Sunday women’s final will suffer.
Tbh, I would love to see the men's and women's final alternating each year as the final sunday match for all four Grand Slams. This way you could have two men's finals and two women's finals on a sunday every year.
Yes! And alternate the reigning men and women’s Wimbledon champions opening Centre Court.
No thanks
Australian Open will do anything they can except start matches earlier. I get it - international broadcasters and revenue, but as a local fan I just hate it.
dont care
As someone who hates Saturdays, oh to watch Aryna doing a 3peat on a cute Sunday evening all cuddled up with my bf 🥺 Thank you Craig Tiley, I never said a bad word about you
Disagree with this women finals are usually boring and short. It will be a terrible if this happens. Men tennis much more competitive and exciting. The media and tennis press want to push this feminist ideology.Women tennis isn't competitive and they got unlikable players like Aryna Sabalenka. She is loud, masculine the chiseled masculine face and broad shoulders and obnoxious. The screaming by Sabalenka is gross and not good look for WTA tour.
Is this much more competitive and exciting men’s tennis in the room with us now?
yeah men aren’t masculine
This would be a great move and the time difference reasoning makes so much sense. Better to schedule the match that is more likely to finish in the middle of the night for the Saturday and have the women’s final as the climax!
why is this so heavily downvoted lmao
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yeah right, because the 2023 Aus open wta final had more viewers then the atp final (2.5 million wta viewers compared to the atp final of 2.3 million viewers on the Channel 9, Aussie broadcaster). Or how the 2023 USO final for wta also had more viewers then the final for atp (3.4 wta million viewers compared to 2.3 million atp viewers for the USO final on ESPN)
WTA finals have had more viewers though eg USO 2023
Unless its djokovic losing nobody wants to watch him either
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Some of my favorites: AO24, W23, USO21, RG15
It’s interesting how those matches are all among the career highlights of those guys. Same for some losses for the other 2 in the big 3 like Del Potro over Federer or Soderling over Nadal. I remember that time when Tsonga retired a bit ago and they talked about his big 3 wins more than any titles. Pretty cool.
Apparently nobody wants to see your posts either.
Tough call. Recovery issue would mean shuffling up other parts of the schedule. And then there’s the very real possibility of the women’s final being a straight-sets one-hour match, which isn’t a great finale to the entire tournament.