World number three Jessica Pegula called for a controversial rule change after her shock first-round exit at Wimbledon.
The American third seed was expected to enjoy a productive run at SW19 as a serial Grand Slam quarter-finalist but only claimed two games as she was comprehensively beaten by Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Pegula looked in fine shape ahead of the tournament, beating former world number one Iga Swiatek to win the title at Bad Homburg in Germany.
After becoming the highest seed to fall at the tournament so far, Pegula, 31, described her Wimbledon exit as her ‘worst result of the year’.
It took Italy’s Cocciaretto, ranked 113 places behind Pegula in the world rankings, less than an hour to advance to the second round.
‘This is definitely probably the worst result I’ve had all year,’ the 2024 US Open finalist said.
‘I’ve been winning lots of matches. It’s just all about it having to come together for two weeks. Sometimes it doesn’t quite all align when you need it to.
‘I haven’t lost first round of a Slam in a very long time, so that sucks. I used to kind of have trouble getting past the first round for a while.
‘I remember I had a really tough match and I just told myself, I’m done losing first round, I’m not losing first round.
‘It’s disappointing. I don’t know how else to put it. I’m upset that I wasn’t able to turn anything around.’
As well as expressing her disappointment, Pegula also revealed she believes men’s tennis should be reduced to three sets, as is the case in the women’s game.
The American says best-of-three tennis produces more upsets and does not see the need for men to play best-of-five sets, which can lead to incredibly long games.
Carlos Alcaraz’s epic comeback win over Jannik Sinner in last month’s French Open final lasted five hours and 29 minutes, while the Spaniard’s opening Wimbledon win surpassed the four-hour mark.
‘I think it’s harder to win two-out-of-three than it is to win three-out-of-five,’ Pegula said.
‘Not physically, obviously, but I think it always is going to cater to the better player in the long run if you’re playing three-out-of-five.
Laura Robson calls for five-set women’s matches at Grand Slams
“I think women absolutely could play best of five sets,” Robson said on Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage.
“I think it’s a logistical nightmare for any tournament director to try and plan two best of five tournaments.
“I don’t see why we don’t play best of five from quarter-finals onwards. Over the last few years, with the nerves of some playing their first finals, it would help them to have another set to work with.
“If they just had more time out there, you can tell that they’d recover further into the match. I know opinion is split, but I think they can do it.”
British tennis Laura Robson speaking to TNT Sports earlier this year.
‘I think you’d see a lot more upsets of top players if men played two-out-of-three in slams.
‘It’s a lot harder when you don’t have that much time. You get down one break and you’re like, “Oh gosh, I’m kind of done… I need some luck. I need someone to choke a little bit. There’s a lot to needs to happen now.’
Asked whether she was keen for women’s tennis to be played over five sets, Pegula added: ‘No. I would rather the men play two-out-of-three.
‘I don’t think we all need to start playing three-out-of-five. For me it’s too long. I personally lose interest watching the matches.
‘Hard to believe men’s tennis will reduce to three sets’
‘I think they’re incredible matches and incredible physically and mentally. I’m, like, Do we really need that? I don’t know. I mean, some people love it.
‘I personally will not watch a full five-hour match. People can’t even hold their attention long enough they say these days with phones. How are they holding their attention for five hours? I don’t know. Just not my thing.
‘I know some guys are really against it. Some aren’t. I mean, I think it would be a lot easier for TV, for scheduling.
‘TV’s always talking about making everything faster and quicker, all of that stuff. So I don’t see why.
‘It’s been such a staple for the men. I find it hard to believe they’re ever going to change it. Maybe if they could also play three-out-of-five from the quarters on. I don’t know. Something like that.
‘The game’s getting so physical. I don’t know why they’d want to, you know? It’s so important to stay healthy. Like with how physical the guys are playing right now, that’s really tough three-out-of-five for two weeks.
‘I mean, it’s crazy. It’s so impressive, but at the same time, like, does it really need to happen? I don’t know.
‘Maybe there’s something where they look at changing it for certain rounds. I think that might be interesting. I don’t know. I think that’s very far away.’
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