Alcaraz Defends Five-Set Grand Slams and Calls for Calendar Reform

Carlos Alcaraz speaks ahead of his return at the Japan Open in Tokyo.

Carlos Alcaraz said men's Grand Slam matches should remain best of five sets because the format is central to the identity and legacy of the sport's four biggest tournaments. The world number three urged tennis administrators to address the crowded calendar instead of shortening major matches.

Alcaraz said five-set matches were what made Grand Slams different from the rest of the tour. He rejected proposals to move men's matches to best of three sets, arguing that a change would weaken the history attached to the major championships.

The comments came in Tokyo before Alcaraz's return at the Japan Open. He has been managing a demanding schedule after missing almost five months with a wrist injury before returning at the US Open.

Rather than alter the Grand Slam format, Alcaraz called for fewer tournaments to be played in succession. He said the season placed players under pressure from the opening weeks of January through the final events in November.

The calendar has become a growing issue across men's tennis. Masters 1000 events have expanded in length, while players continue to face mandatory tournaments and Grand Slam commitments across an 11-month season.

Alcaraz said players should not be expected to compete week after week without enough breaks. His preferred reform would reduce the number of consecutive tournaments and give players more time to recover between events.

The Australian Open has said five-set men's tennis will remain part of its format, although the tournament has indicated that further innovations may be announced before the 2027 edition. The debate has therefore shifted toward scheduling rather than the length of Grand Slam matches.

Alcaraz's position keeps the best-of-five format at the centre of men's Grand Slam competition. He said the physical demands should be managed through a better calendar rather than by removing the format that separates the majors from other tournaments.

The Spaniard's comments follow his earlier calls for limits on late finishes and more breaks during the season. He has now separated those reforms from the best-of-five tradition. His latest proposal targets the structure of the calendar while leaving the five-set format unchanged