{
  "id": 11120428,
  "title": "Alcaraz says five sets key to Grand Slam legacy, urges calendar reforms instead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/alcaraz-says-five-sets-key-to-grand-slam-legacy-urges-calendar",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T05:46:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/alcaraz-says-five-sets-key-grand-slam-legacy-urges-calendar-reforms-instead-6423636"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Carlos Alcaraz believes Grand Slam tournaments should maintain the best-of-five sets format, arguing that shortening matches would harm the legacy of tennis's four majors. At the Japan Open, the world number three stressed the need for changes to the packed tour calendar instead of altering the format of the most prestigious events. While the debate over player workload, late finishes, and the demands of the calendar gained momentum at the US Open, Alcaraz insisted that modifying the format of the Grand Slams would \"kill\" their legacy. Novak Djokovic has previously suggested best-of-three matches in the initial rounds, and Tennis Australia's Andrew Abdo proposed exploring alternative formats or scoring systems. However, the four majors have maintained that five-set tennis is \"here to stay\" and affirmed their commitment to the current format at the Australian Open. Alcaraz emphasized that tennis should prioritize reducing the demands of the 11-month calendar, as he was sidelined with a wrist injury for nearly five months before returning to competition. The Professional Tennis Players Association has filed a class-action lawsuit against the sport's governing bodies, advocating for changes in player welfare and compensation.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Alcaraz says five sets key to Grand Slam legacy, urges calendar reforms instead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/alcaraz-says-five-sets-key-to-grand-slam-legacy-urges-calendar-11128821",
        "published": "2026-10-01T06:22:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}