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Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has sparked a heated debate in the tennis world after proposing a major overhaul of the sport’s traditional scoring system.
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The 39-year-old Serbian is preparing for his Cincinnati Open campaign, where he is scheduled to face Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante in the round of 64 on Saturday.
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The tournament marks Djokovic’s return to competitive action since Wimbledon in July. He skipped the Washington Open and Canadian Open as he prepared for the final stretch of the North American hard-court season.
August 15, (THEWILL) — With the US Open beginning on August 30, Djokovic is also targeting a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian has not won a major since claiming the US Open in 2023.
However, his latest comments have shifted attention away from his pursuit of another Grand Slam and towards an idea that could fundamentally change how tennis is played.
Djokovic proposes major scoring overhaul
Djokovic has suggested that tennis sets should be shortened from six games to four, while also calling for the traditional advantage system to be removed.
Under the current ATP format, a player normally needs to win six games by a margin of two to take a set. If the score reaches 6-6, a tie-break is generally played.
Most ATP Tour matches are best-of-three sets, while Grand Slam men’s singles matches remain best-of-five.
Djokovic believes shortening sets could make matches faster and more appealing to modern audiences.
“We have to change the scoring system. Sets should no longer be played to six games, but to four. I would also scrap the advantage”, Djokovic said.
He added that retaining the best-of-five format at Grand Slam tournaments while shortening sets could mean matches lasting around two hours.
“That would be better for everyone”, Djokovic said.
The proposal has immediately divided opinion, with several prominent figures arguing that reducing the length of sets would take away an important part of tennis’s identity.
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Kafelnikov brands proposal ‘absurd’
Two-time Grand Slam champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov was among the strongest critics of Djokovic’s suggestion.
The former world No. 1 dismissed the idea as completely unnecessary and warned that such a change could damage the sport.
“It’s absurd! It’s nonsense beyond belief. If this happens, I will be completely disappointed with tennis”, Kafelnikov said during an appearance on First&Red.
Former French player Julien Benneteau also rejected the proposal, arguing that tennis cannot simply shorten its traditional structure because modern audiences supposedly want faster entertainment.
“I understand that it can make the opening games more important, whereas some match beginnings can be boring”, Benneteau said.
But he questioned where such changes would eventually lead.
“Tomorrow, will we have ten-minute football matches? On the Tour de France, will we do a straight 15km climb up to Alpe d’Huez, without the preceding 150km? No, that would make no sense.”
Benneteau argued that the drama created during a tennis set is part of what makes the sport compelling.
“Tennis is also the drama that leads to the end of sets”, he added.
Shelton open to Djokovic’s idea
Despite the backlash, Djokovic’s proposal has received some support from within the current generation of players.
American star Ben Shelton, currently ranked fifth in the world, admitted that he would be interested in experiencing the proposed format.
Shelton acknowledged the irony of the suggestion coming from Djokovic, one of the fittest and most physically durable players in tennis history.
“It was interesting coming from him, because he’s always been the guy who’s the fittest on tour, the guy that can last five hours, six hours, doesn’t matter”, Shelton said.
Nevertheless, Shelton believes experimenting with the format could be worthwhile.
“I think it would be an interesting change, for sure. I think tennis is certainly a traditional sport, and tournaments like to stick with their traditions, but I would be interested to play some matches in this format.”
Djokovic’s proposal could trigger wider debate
The debate comes as tennis continues to consider how best to attract younger audiences while preserving the traditions that have defined the sport for generations.
Djokovic’s proposal would represent one of the biggest changes to tennis scoring in the modern era if adopted, particularly if it were eventually introduced at Grand Slam level.
For now, however, the idea remains only a proposal, with opposition already emerging from some of the sport’s most respected former players.
Djokovic’s immediate priority will be the Cincinnati Open and his preparation for the US Open, where he will attempt to add another major title to his extraordinary career.
Whether his controversial scoring proposal gains momentum remains to be seen, but the Serbian has once again demonstrated his willingness to challenge the established norms of tennis.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
