Craig Tiley Proposes Radical Shake-Up for Women’s Tennis

The Australian Open has always been the “Happy Slam,” known for its relaxed summer vibes and willingness to push the boundaries of tradition. But the latest idea coming out of Melbourne Park is less about blue courts or night sessions and more about fundamentally changing the way the women’s game is played.

Tournament director Craig Tiley has dropped a bit of a bombshell, suggesting that by 2027, we might see the women playing best-of-five set matches in the tournament’s second week. It’s a proposal that has sparked immediate debate across the tennis world, touching on everything from physical endurance to schedule management and, of course, the ever-present conversation about true equality in sports.

Tiley’s Vision for 2027

If you follow tennis, you know the drill: men play best-of-five sets at the four majors, while women play best-of-three. It’s been this way for decades. The men’s format is often romanticized as the ultimate test of grit—think of those 4 a.m. finishes or the legendary five-hour marathons between Nadal and Djokovic. Meanwhile, the women’s format is punchier, faster, and arguably more TV-friendly, but it often draws criticism from detractors who use match length as an argument against equal prize money (despite equal pay being the standard at Slams for years now).

Tiley isn’t suggesting a total overhaul from day one. His idea is specific: introduce the longer format starting in the second week of the 2027 Australian Open. This would likely mean the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.

Why the second week? Logistically, it makes the most sense. The first week of a Grand Slam is chaotic. There are hundreds of matches to get through, and doubling the potential length of women’s matches in rounds one through three would be a scheduling nightmare. By the second week, the draw has thinned out, the courts are less crowded, and the spotlight is firmly on the marquee matchups.

The Equality Debate: Is Longer Better?

This proposal brings up a fascinating question about what equality actually looks like. For years, advocates have argued that if women want equal footing in the public perception, they should play the same format as the men. The argument is that playing best-of-five provides a bigger stage to showcase athleticism, tactical depth, and mental resilience. It allows for those epic comebacks where a player goes two sets down only to claw their way back to victory—a narrative arc currently exclusive to the men’s game at the majors.

However, there’s a flip side. Many tennis purists—and indeed, many players—argue that best-of-three is actually the superior product. It’s intense from the first ball. A slow start in a best-of-three match is fatal, whereas a slow start in best-of-five can be just a warm-up. Does making the women play longer matches actually improve the sport, or does it just satisfy an arbitrary metric of “sameness”?

The Physical Toll

Then there is the physical reality. Tennis is more brutal today than it was twenty years ago. The rallies are longer, the ball is hit harder, and the movement is more explosive. Asking players to suddenly switch from a career of sprinting (best-of-three) to running a marathon (best-of-five) is a massive ask.

If Tiley pushes this through, training regimes will need to change drastically. Nutrition, recovery, and injury prevention strategies will all need an overhaul. We aren’t just talking about adding an hour to a match; we are talking about changing the physiological demands placed on the athletes. There is a legitimate fear that this could lead to a spike in injuries, particularly in that first transition year.

Why the Australian Open?

It’s no surprise that this conversation is starting in Melbourne. Under Tiley’s leadership, the Australian Open has often been the testing ground for new ideas. They were the first to really embrace electronic line calling, the first to put roofs on multiple stadiums, and they’ve pioneered the “festival” atmosphere that other Slams are now trying to copy.

By floating this idea three years out, Tiley is doing what he does best: gauging the room. He’s starting the conversation now to see how the players, the WTA tour, and the broadcasters react.

What Happens Next?

Between now and 2027, expect a lot of closed-door meetings. The players will need to sign off on this, and that is far from guaranteed. Some will relish the challenge; others will see it as an unnecessary risk to their bodies. Broadcasters will also have a say—longer matches mean unpredictable finish times, which can be a headache for TV programming, even if it does mean more drama.

Whether this happens or not, the conversation itself is valuable. It forces us to ask what we value in sports entertainment and whether “equal” means “identical.” One thing is for sure: if anyone can pull off a change this big, it’s probably Tiley and his team down under.

FAQ Section

Q: What happened at the Australian Open?  

A: Tournament director Craig Tiley proposed introducing best‑of‑five set matches for women starting in 2027.

Q: Who is involved?  

A: Craig Tiley, WTA players, and tennis governing bodies.

Q: Why is this news important?  

A: It could reshape women’s tennis, addressing long‑standing debates about equality and endurance.

Q: What are the next steps?  

A: Consultations with players and officials, with a possible trial during the 2027 Australian Open’s second week.