What do female players think of possibly playing best-of-five sets at Grand Slams like the men? 

It’s a topic that made the rounds in Indian Wells this week after then Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said this in February: “One of the things I’ve been saying now is that I think there should be three out of five sets for women. We should look at the last few matches — the quarters and the semis and the finals — and make the women’s side three out of five.”

He was speaking to the Australian Associated Press.

In late February, Tiley — a former head coach at the University of Illinois — was then named CEO of the USTA. 

So what indeed did the women have to say? 

Here are some of the answers from the game’s highest ranked players. 

Coco Gauff

“It probably would favor me, because I'm physically up there with the best, but I probably wouldn't want to see that happen. And if it were to happen, I would prefer it to be the whole tournament, not just the quarters. I think changing the format in the middle of the tournament defeats the purpose of the playing field.

“I think it would be a lot on players and also fans and TV. Imagine, sometimes five sets lasts all the way to the 7 p.m. session. If all of us were going five sets, I don't even think we would be able to finish (a Grand Slam) within the two weeks.”

Jessica Pegula 

“I don't really think we should have to. I'm honestly just not a massive fan of the three out of five, even with the men. And even though I know that there have been amazing three-out-of-five matches, I do think in three-out-of-five matches there is also a lot of those where guys throw sets because they're tired....they have told me that before. They have to reserve their energy in different ways.

“You're definitely managing your energy much different, from at least what I have been told from the guys, than you do two out of three.

“So I think that's something. I think we have amazing female athletes that, honestly, I think we could do that. I don't think it's the fact that we can’t. I just don't necessarily think that we should.

“I don't even know how you would schedule tournaments. We'd have to add weeks.”

Elena Rybakina 

“I think it's a huge change, even if it's only the second week. You start in one format, and then it gets longer. Mentally, to be ready to play so many sets if it goes to that point, I think it's not easy.

“And of course, physically, then you need to understand how you're gonna feel. Even if you have this one day in between, it might be not enough, and then in the second week sometimes you play two days in a row.

“I think it's a huge change, and I don't think it might be interesting also for the people, because they maintain the level for so many sets. 

“So I think it's a tricky topic, and me, as a player, I would say I wouldn't want to play three out of five.”

Aryna Sabalenka 

“Yeah, let's do that. I feel like I would have probably more Grand Slams. I feel like physically I'm really strong, and I'm pretty confident that my body can handle that. So let's do it.”

When asked if it would be a good idea for other players, she replied: “I don't know. I guess it's a lot of fitness work to be done for others, but I feel like we're in sport and we have to care about ourselves, and I feel like if they do it, I have a huge advantage.”

Iga Swiatek

“I think honestly it’s a weird approach in the world where everything is becoming faster. So I don't know if the audience honestly would like that.

“Also, I don't know if we would be able to keep the quality for five sets. Well, that's a fact, men are more physically strong and they can handle it for sure better.

“Also, we have never practiced in a way to prepare for that, so we would need to change, I think, our whole calendar, because the Grand Slams would be so tough that I don't think we would have honestly time to prepare for any other tournaments.”