Women's SF day

This often turns out to be a poor day for spectators, with potentially just 4 sets of singles in the whole day's play. I think there would be good case for making the SFs and finals of Slams best-of-5-sets - much better value for the crowd, and it's not like the players are saving themselves for something bigger in a couple of weeks time.

It's a particular issue after the QFs, when the women's and men's matches are scheduled on separate days; but a case could also be made for having the whole of the women's week2 at Slams best-of-5.

Wondered what other people here think...

I can never see best of 5 at women's tennis for any matches. The fact the men are struggling with injuries and some suggesting 3 sets at Slams will be used for starters. Women's tennis is more entertaining at the moment more shot making as well, I think you'd lose that in 5 sets and the fitness aspect would suggest more conservative play as well. Men's game the rallies tend to be shorter as serve is more prominent as well. A 5 set women's match could go on for a lot longer. So it's a no from me.

Best of 5 for men ( and throughout the main draw ) distinguishes the Slams, I like it. Though do always have final set TBs. Looking at you, Wimbledon !

And it certainly can provide epic early round matches involving top ranked players, but more usually with best of five battles the top ranked players will come through, so helping the cream get to the latter stages. Err, usually !

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 7th of September 2017 02:47:33 PM

Sensational tennis from Madison Keys against a disappointing Coco Vandeweghe. Madison's level in the first set was simply astonishing, though dropped down to a more normal standard in the 2nd.

Sloane came through after a nervous final set featuring tons of break points and enough unforced errors to fill the stadium. Yet the contest was decided by a sublime run of points from Sloane from *4-5 30-30 to serving for the match at *6-5, helped by Venus failing to land a single first serve.

That 3rd set between Sloane and Venus was top quality stuff. Sloane has amazing hands, her ability to return lost causes into winners was feasts there. I was rooting for Venus but Sloane was the best player on the day and deserved the win.

Keys played an almost perfect match. I haven't checked the stats but I'd imagine single fingers unforced errors and on serve she barely lost any points. Poor Coco had no answer.

It should be a good final, sadly I won't be able to watch any of the action from now on til the end but whoever wins will certainly be a worthy champ and both likeable pleasant girls as well.

When you think that only three months ago, Sloane was still hobbling around in a boot because of surgery to a stress fracture in her foot, and Madison was having yet another wrist surgery, removing scar tissue from the previous one, injecting fat from her stomach into the wrist, etc. etc., it really is remarkable.

Great to see two Americans in their home event. Two 'young' players in their first Grand Slam final. And two women 'of colour', flying the flag for multi-ethnic tennis (I know that Madison has caused some controversy for not regarding herself as black, (nor white, indeed), but that just makes it better - different people, each with a different story).

Well done, both, and good luck in the final!

Yes, I was thinking the same. (Re Laura).

In fact, I event thought of Laura during Coco VdW's interview - not that Coco has been long-term injured (that I know of) but simply when Coco said she'd won the US Open Juniors at 16, expected it all to come easily in adult tennis, and had really had to wait till age 25 for it all to click.