sports

Wimbledon Q&A: Ball Selection, Women's Five Sets

At Wimbledon, tennis players are carefully selecting balls based on wear to optimize their serves, while the debate continues about introducing best of five sets for women's matches.

Players at Wimbledon are adopting a new practice of selecting multiple balls before serving, with preferences varying based on playing style. Offensive players often choose newer balls for their first serve to maximize power, while some prefer more worn balls for their second serve to make returns more challenging. Defensive players might exclusively use worn balls, while offensive players consistently opt for fresher, more aerodynamic balls. biznow.biz

Meanwhile, there's growing discussion about potentially implementing best of five sets for women's events at Grand Slams. Some believe physically imposing players like Coco Gauff would thrive in the format, while others question if it would benefit all players equally. The women's final at the WTA Finals was played as best of five sets between 1984 and 1998, with suggestions to trial best of five sets from the second week onwards as a compromise.