Carlos Alcaraz expressed his support for maintaining the best-of-five-sets format in men's Grand Slam matches during an appearance at the Japan Open in Tokyo, Japan. He believes that changing to a best-of-three-sets format would undermine the prestigious status of these major tournaments.
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While Alcaraz acknowledged the need for measures to prevent matches from ending in the early hours of the morning, he argued that reducing the number of sets is not the appropriate solution. He emphasized that the five-set format has been a defining characteristic of Grand Slam events.
This topic gained renewed attention following the US Open, where Alcaraz faced Ben Shelton in a quarterfinal match that concluded at 3:33 a.m. Subsequently, Novak Djokovic had suggested implementing best-of-three-set matches in the early rounds of Grand Slam tournaments. However, Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley confirmed that the five-set format would remain unchanged, although they would explore alternative formats and scoring systems for future events.
Instead of modifying the Grand Slam structure, Alcaraz proposed a reduction in the annual tournament schedule. He advocated for tennis players to be given a break from consecutive weeks of play, reflecting on his own experience of missing nearly five months due to a wrist injury before returning to competition in New York.
Additionally, the four Grand Slam tournaments have established a Player Advisory Council to address player welfare and compensation concerns. While specific members have not been officially confirmed, reports indicate that Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina, and Aryna Sabalenka are involved, though neither Alcaraz nor world No. 1 Jannik Sinner are part of the council.