Australian Open confirms five-set tennis format will remain

The Australian Open has reaffirmed its commitment to the best-of-five-set format for men’s matches, following recent speculation regarding potential rule changes. The organization clarified its stance via social media, stating, “While innovation is part of the AO’s DNA, five-set tennis is here to stay.”

The clarification comes after Tennis Australia CEO Andrew Abdo suggested at a leadership summit that Grand Slam tournaments might eventually adopt different match lengths or scoring systems to increase audience engagement and modernize the sport. Abdo noted that formats could potentially change depending on the round to better entertain viewers.

These comments gained significant traction following several marathon matches at the US Open, including a 4-hour and 28-minute quarterfinal between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz that concluded in the early morning hours. While the five-set format remains unchanged for now, the Australian Open indicated that further updates regarding the 2027 tournament will be revealed soon.