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Reactions: Mixed doubles

Responses overwhelmingly against new format

Andre Agassi is one star fans could see more of with the new mixed doubles format. AP

The mixed doubles competition at the 2001 Australian Open will feature a best of two sets format for all matches excluding the final. Under this format, each match will consist of two sets and feature a tiebreak in the event of a 1-1 tie. CNNSI.com users were asked for their opinion on this new format and the overwhelming majority were against this experiment. A sample of the responses were received follows:

The best of two system might be appropriate for juniors or masters or lower grades, but I hope it is not widely adopted in pro tennis. I can imagine the deciding tiebreak will favor the player who has just won the previous set and has the momentum. I guess someone is keeping stats on this. I hope the truer test -- a full (or tie-break) set -- remains the standard for pro tennis players. How many glorious five or three set classics would we have missed if this system had been introduced in the past?
Graham Thomas, Canberra, Australia

I'm all for the two-set format if it encourages more of the top players to enter!
Jacque Jones, Rochester, Minn.

I hope they don't change it to the best of two - that would only favor players who come out of the gates quickly. Tennis makes room for all kinds of champions -- including those who make unbelievable comebacks, a la Todd Martin against Rusedski in the '99 U.S. Open. Limiting tennis to two sets and a tiebreak for the sake of the media machine schedule is doing a great disservice to a wonderful sport, not to mention the fans. If I want my entertainment in measured, predictable chunks, I'll watch a sitcom. But thankfully, I have a brain that enjoys the unpredictable stimulation of a match that could take five hours to come to its glorious conclusion. Please leave well enough alone.
Suzanne, Concord, N.H.

This is terrible for the game of tennis. What will ever happen to the Changs of the game? There is no need to come back, as your opponent is faltering. The two-set format does not account for the fitness part of the game. Heck, even I can go two sets with a pro. Maybe I should join the tour now!
Nathan Tse, Scarborough, Ontario

The two-set format would tend to favor the less physically fit player. It's possible that some matches might only last 35 minutes! This would not be good for the players and it would certainly not be much fun to watch. Part of the pleasure of playing and watching tennis is the drama of the fluctuating rhythms of a long match. On the other hand, if the match were between evenly matched players, the winner would tend to be the luckiest. Tenacity, physical fitness, mental toughness would all be diminished. I think this is a terrible idea. I really don't understand the necessity for the change.
Helen Sheehy, Hamden, Conn.

On the whole, no, I don't think it's a good idea. First for the slow starters it could be over before they even get started. Secondly, unlike some, I happen to really enjoy doubles and mixed doubles. If I were a part of the ticket-paying public, I would resent something that limits the amount of enjoyment I get for my ticket. I love the play of the game and you want to take some of that away. I definitely think across the board this is a big no!!!!
Cheryl Schuster, Mt.Vernon, Ill.

I do not think two sets are enough to determine who wins a tennis match. The least number of sets should be three. The best of three gives the slow starters enough time to warm up to their games and also allows players the opportunity to display their talent, stamina and guile on the court. I have been against best of five sets because I believe that it moves the games out of the realm of expertise to that of physical fitness.
Eric, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Our constantly accelerating world cannot afford anymore to wait for about two hours for the final result? This seems to be another marketing strategy intending to organize more matches and make more money in the same time. Nowadays tennis players can afford to temporarily slow down at some points of the game and later kick back with furious anger, thus introducing color and excitement into the battlefield. This change would turn the tennis game into some kind of 100m sprint. And this way, tennis won't be tennis anymore.
László Szilágyi, Marosvásárhely, Transylvania

I feel that two sets are great! Tennis is a sport but it also is entertainment. If there is anything the sport can do is shorten it up and make it more television-friendly, there would be drama in the tiebreak if it came to that and sports is all about drama! I think this would also help out singles matches at the grand slams. All players would benefit. It would shorten their playing time and less playing time means fewer injuries. How could this in anyway be detrimental to the game is beyond me.
Derek J. Reis, Rochester, N.Y.

I think it's a great idea. First, it is not a big drawing card at tennis events. Most top players do not play doubles or mixed doubles because of the toll on their bodies. They want to concentrate on singles. By almost guaranteeing a "maximum match time", perhaps more top players would play these events -- which would also increase popularity of mixed doubles.
Ted McCarthy, Baltimore, Md.

I think this just nails the lid on the coffin of mixed doubles as a legitimate format. I'm pretty sure they are spitting in the face of mixed doubles by making it a best of two sets format. They should just put it out of its misery rather than humiliate the format like this.
Pat Bastion, New York, N.Y.

This is a horrid idea. It's bad at the USA League Tennis level and it's worse at the professional level. Reducing a match to a tie-break at one-all diminishes the need for fitness and mental toughness to gut things out for another set. In addition, it deprives fans of more tennis. Most importantly, it benefits the huge-servers in the game, a group that needs no additional benefits. Let 'em play.
John Niedfeldt-Thomas, Minneapolis, Minn.

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