‘œWhen you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up – and for me it’s tennis’ quotes Tennis great and 17-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer.
“When you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up – and for me it’s tennis” quotes Tennis great and 17-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer. Surely for the greatest of greatest players on the Tennis court, to achieve and win the biggest prize was the Grand Slam. Be it the French Open, Australian Open or the Wimbledon. Grand Slams is one such where the biggest stars in Tennis arena gather to compete for the biggest prize.
The ladies and the gents defy the word ‘skill’ with utmost respect as they present some scintillating contest between the racquet and the ball. But in the Grand Slams, Men vied in a gruelling contest that could go for hours. A 5-setter to be precise which could be best explained by USA’s John Isner and French Nicholas Mahut who played the longest match in Tennis’ history during the 2010 Wimbledon. So to aggregate them all, Maria Sharapova has come out with a simple solution. Play a 3-setter like the women do.
Talking to BBC Radio, Sharapova was quoted, “”It would be more exciting from the beginning of the match because you know that first set is extremely important. When you are watching a three-out-of-five-set match, the first set sometimes doesn’t mean too much. Five-setters are extremely tough on the body. Men have expressed a lot of concern, especially to the matches that last five hours, in terms of recovery.”
There is no denying what Sharapova has just said. Take the prime example of recently concluded 2014 Australian Open Final where current world number 1, Rafael Nadal had to play with an injury against Swiss, Stanislas Wawrinka where the latter went on to win the Slam. Few of the stars though did not agree with the Russian Tennis star.
Reigning Wimbledon champ, Andy Murray disapproves with Sharapova. Speaking to BBC Sport, he adds, “You spend more time in the gym putting your body through its paces to get ready for the Grand Slams, but they are the biggest events and should be the toughest test of a player physically and mentally. I like that it’s best of five sets. Because I don’t think you get fluke results.”
Murray has some strong words there. The likes of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer have produced excellent tennis when they have played long hours. Surely the ITF (International Tennis Federation) can have a look into this but there on, it surely does not have serious implications on Men’s Tennis.
Only Sharapova herself can explain the comments she made. May be this can be another gimmick or a ‘behind the hood’ sexist attack. ‘Sugarpova’ anyone?
Here’s what fan’s are saying on Twitter about Sharapova’s comments:
Sharapova has said men should play only 3 sets in Grand Slam finals?! LOL! You’ve got it the wrong way around Maria.
— Sean Gray (@fogontheforth) March 7, 2014
No Maria Sharapova, sorry. You cannot ask men’s Grand Slam finals to played in three sets. Three sets more exciting?! Do you watch tennis?!
— Sam Ruddock (@samruddockT35) March 7, 2014
Maria Sharapova thinks men’s slams should be best of 3 as they would be more exciting…. #howaboutno
— Ben Disley (@BenDisley) March 7, 2014
