Wimbledon 2023: Men’s doubles matches to be abbreviated

News
Wimbledon aerial shot general overview

The men’s doubles at Wimbledon is to change from best-of-five sets to best of three, the All England Club has announced.

The change will take effect from this year’s championships, which get under way on July 3.

Wimbledon’s five-set format in the men’s doubles has been criticised in the past, and the change could encourage more players to compete in the competition as it will mean less time on court.

The change only concerns the men’s doubles competition (John Walton/PA)
Wimbledon was the only grand slam to stage five-set doubles matches but will now move into line with the Australian Open, French Open and US Open.

A statement from the AELTC said: “This change was recently approved by the main board and members of the committee of management.

“The decision was made following a wide-ranging consultation and the change brings Wimbledon into line with the other grand slams which stage the gentlemen’s doubles in a best-of-three format.

“This update will provide the referee’s office with greater certainty when scheduling matches during the event and we hope it will encourage even more players to enter doubles at Wimbledon as a result.”

Nick Kyrgios criticised the five-set format last year (Zac Goodwin/PA)
Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 men’s singles finalist, criticised the format last year before dropping out of his doubles quest with Thanasi Kokkinakis to focus on singles.

The Australian branded it the “stupidest thing ever”.

“I am not really looking forward to playing best-of-five-set doubles. I think it is the stupidest thing ever,” Kyrgios said Sunday.

“I don’t know why it is best of five sets. No-one wants to play best-of-five-set doubles, no one wants to watch best-of-five-set doubles.

“I am excited, but I am also dreading the fact that if it is one set all I am going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles. That’s why I haven’t played it before. It doesn’t make sense, because I have always gone pretty well here in singles, so I am not on my off-day playing potentially five sets of doubles.”

All other formats at Wimbledon will remain the same.

Latest