LONDON: Wimbledon will shorten men’s doubles matches from best-of-five sets to best-of-three in this year’s championships, the All England Club announced on Wednesday.
The traditional five-set format had been criticized in the past for discouraging more singles specialists from entering doubles.
Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam tournament to hold five-set doubles matches, but it will now line up with the australian open, French Open and U.S. Open.
“The decision has been taken following wide consultation and the change aligns Wimbledon with other Grand Slam tournaments which run men’s best-of-three doubles,” the AELTC said in a statement.
“This update will provide the Referee’s Office with greater certainty when scheduling matches during the event and we hope will encourage even more players to register for Wimbledon doubles.”
All other formats at Wimbledon will remain the same.
The traditional five-set format had been criticized in the past for discouraging more singles specialists from entering doubles.
Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam tournament to hold five-set doubles matches, but it will now line up with the australian open, French Open and U.S. Open.
“The decision has been taken following wide consultation and the change aligns Wimbledon with other Grand Slam tournaments which run men’s best-of-three doubles,” the AELTC said in a statement.
“This update will provide the Referee’s Office with greater certainty when scheduling matches during the event and we hope will encourage even more players to register for Wimbledon doubles.”
All other formats at Wimbledon will remain the same.
