Azarenka suggests dramatic overhaul of tennis that could upset traditionalists

Victoria Azarenka has suggested an unusual solution to the issue of matches being played into the early hours. In a major break away from tradition, the two-time Grand Slam champion proposed playing 12-point final sets to shorten ties. It comes after world No 4 Elena Rybakina slammed the WTA when she finished a match at 3am during last week’s Canadian Open.

The scheduling of matches has been the talk of the tennis world in recent days after Rybakina claimed it was “unprofessional” to have players competing into the night. As well as her 3am finish, Montreal runner-up Luidmila Samsonova twice found herself having to play two matches in one day – including a 48-minute beatdown in the final after contesting the semis just hours before.

Iga Swiatek and Sloane Stephens have already called for something to be done about the late finishes. And former world No 1 Azarenka has now joined the debate, promising a dramatic change that traditionalists won’t be a fan of.

“I don’t know how it will be received, but if matches could be a little bit shorter,” the 34-year-old said, offering an answer to the problem. “I think the quality of the competition won’t be affected that extremely.

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“There’s tradition, but I don’t think it would change the game to the point where it’s unrecognisable. Maybe a third set is up to 12 points. There has to be some innovation possible.”

Azarenka also said that she tried to be proactive in proposing solutions to issues that her colleagues had in her role on the WTA Player Council. But the Belarusian was left exasperated with her suggestions going overlooked.

“I absolutely lost it yesterday because we work so hard in the Players Council and I just felt so frustrated, like I’m not making a difference and I put a lot of time, a lot of effort,” she added. “I try to be reasonable, I try to compromise, I try to create ideas and we are moving at the slowest pace to get things done.

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“This is the only sport in the world where you don’t know when you will play. I look at it as a player, and it’s ridiculous. I look at it as a fan, and I don’t know which matches I’m going to go watch because I have no clue unless you’re very fanatical.”

The 21-time title winner also had another proposition to prevent matches finishing at 3am like Rybakina’s clash with Daria Kasatkina. “We need to appeal to a bigger crowd to watch our sport. The night matches have to start earlier in the 6pm and 8.30pm slots,” she continued.

“If tennis can help itself to have slots of time where we can market, it would be much easier for the tournament.”

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