Gender equality in tennis has long been a controversial and touchy issue, but recent comments made by former Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore and Mutua Madrid Open owner Ion Tiriac have heightened tensions and intensified the debate.
Advocates against equal prize money argue that men’s players bring in more money than their female counterparts, and should be rewarded for playing lengthier matches.
Men play best-of-five-set matches at Grand Slams, in Davis Cup play and in the Olympics final. Women only play best-of-three-set matches throughout the season.
Speaking with reporters on a conference call on Monday to preview the French Open, Tennis Channel analyst and International Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin suggested that women could—and would—play five-set matches.
She also indicated that maybe three out of five is too many, as marathon matches at Slams have been known to eclipse the four-hour mark.
“I don't think that women would have a problem playing three out of five sets,” Austin said. “And I think also, on the men's side, often times three out of five is too long. And so I think women, if they were asked again to play three out of five, that wouldn't be a problem. For me, it's not about the length.”
From 1984-1998, the final of the WTA Tour Championships—now known as the WTA Finals—was a best-of-five-set match.
“When you go to a concert, it's not how long this one plays—or a man plays or a woman plays,” the two-time U.S. Open champion said. “It's just about the entertainment value … Maybe men should go to two out of three. Maybe it will make it more interesting and [they will] feel a sense of urgency.”