Forever in our hearts: Gabriela Sabatini confirmed dead few minutes ago
“It might be good to shorten five-set matches” – interview with Gabriela Sabatini
Gabriela Sabatini joins an ever-lively debate in tennis: are matches way too long?
‘It’s an interesting topic and I think it might be good to shorten five-set matches,” she told CLAY in this interview that took place during Wimbledon 2024.
“Making the game a little bit faster, which I think is fine for the fans, it’s more entertaining.”
The Argentine appreciates seeing Novak Djokovic still ambitious at 37 years old with so many records to his name. She believes that part of that motivation is still alive thanks to countless run-ins with the crowd, which motivates him. She also marvels at Italian Jasmine Paolini: ‘I love her attitude’.
Thirty-four years ago, Sabatini stood on the green hard courts of Flushing Meadows, kissing the US Open trophy. She won it in 1990 after defeating Steffi Graf in straight sets in front of a packed crowd.
The former world number three is currently enjoying her status as a tennis legend, and every time she attends tournaments, she receives star treatment. This Wednesday, she will continue to turn heads when she returns to the tournament where she experienced the most successful moment of her career. At Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, she will play a mixed doubles exhibition alongside Juan Martín del Potro against Andy Roddick and Venus Williams.
– They are trying to implement new things, make the game a little bit faster, which I think is good for the fans, it’s more entertaining. They’ve moved towards that. I don’t know what other things they might change, because tennis has a tradition, and you have to be careful what you change.
– That’s a tough one. I think it’s a decision that always has to go through the players. For those who are on the court, also for the spectator it can be a bit time consuming. I think it has to be evaluated more for a physical issue than anything else. We have to see if five-sets matches are too physically demanding and if in the long run they are the cause of so many injuries. The most important thing in this debate is to listen to the voice of the players. It’s an interesting topic and I think it might be good thing perhaps shorten them.
– I see women’s tennis in good health, it is very competitive, although the players are changing. It is not that there are one, two or three that dominate. Now Iga Swiatek is doing it, but it varies a lot. Maybe what happens is that the names don’t register as much because they vary so much. There is a lot of rotation and then you don’t identify with the players as much because you don’t know them. Maybe the number two or three player appeared and you don’t know how she got there so fast. Maybe that’s what happens to the public. They know the men better.