For decades, the idea of women playing best-of-five at Grand Slams has stirred opinion across eras—but now, as Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka speak out at Wimbledon, the debate has landed right back on center court. Long before this week’s fresh soundbites, players like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert had already pushed for change. In the 1980s and ’90s, they reportedly offered to play five-set finals, only to be turned down. Navratilova’s frustration has spanned generations. “We offered to play 3 out of 5 decades ago and were told no. So here we are,” she posted in late 2024, echoing a 2022 comment that it was “pretty sad” how little had progressed. Former No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo has also advocated for five-set matches in late-round Slam play, while Serena Williams, speaking in 2014, put it even more bluntly: “We women are strong, ready, willing and able.” And the resistance? It’s been just as loud. 

In 2023, Spain’s Paula Badosa pushed back with a clear no, citing physical constraints tied to recovery and menstruation: “We are not prepared for that… we have a lot of things to deal with.” Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Slam winner, dismissed the idea entirely, calling it “the dumbest thing I’ve heard.” Both argued that the three-set format already allows for competitiveness and excellence without risking burnout. And despite sporadic discussion, the WTA and Grand Slam boards have made no formal effort to test or revise the format.

That’s what makes this week’s renewed friction between Osaka and Sabalenka worth paying attention to. On Day 1 at SW19, after securing their respective first-round wins, both players were asked where they stood on the issue—and their answers couldn’t have been more different. The question was direct: Would she be open to testing herself in such a format? Without hesitation, Naomi replied:

“I think I would do pretty well if that’s what you’re asking. I know we would probably never get to that point. But I wouldn’t be against it if it did happen.” When pressed further on whether she saw it as a matter of gender equality in tennis, Naomi, who crashed out of the French Open in the first round, got candid: “Honestly, I feel like out of all the things to be equal, that might be like one of the most nit-picky things. I’ve also just grown up my whole life knowing that men play 5 sets and women play 3 sets. I think it’s a bit hard to change that mentality, for me, personally.”

Meanwhile, the debate isn’t just swirling around Naomi, though. Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, after powering past Canada’s Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 in just 73 minutes on Monday, offered a contrasting take. Don’t miss a moment—get minute-by-minute coverage of the Championships on EssentiallySports!

“Probably physically, I’m one of the strongest ones, so maybe it would benefit me. But I think I’m not ready to play five sets,” Sabalenka added. She warned of the toll it could take, adding, “I think it’s too much on the woman’s body. I think we’re not ready for this amount of tennis. I think it would increase the amount of injuries. So I think this is not something I would consider.” Her concern does echo broader injury trend on the WTA Tour, where retrospective reviews show female players sustain an average of 23.4 injuries per 1,000 sets, higher than men’s 17.7—and many of these are overuse injuries in the knee, shoulder, and wrist.

Referencing the grueling, as well as iconic, 5-hour, 29-minute French Open men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the Belarusian gave fans a dose of brutal honesty: “For someone watching, it’s amazing to see five hours of great tennis. But I’m not really jealous to stay there for five hours as a player.”

Echoing a similar note, the recent French Open winner, Coco Gauff, chimed in on Saturday. “It would favor me just from a physicality standpoint. But I do think it would kind of be a big change for the tour. I think it would be fine just keeping it like how it is.”

While the sport’s top names continue to split opinions on the 5-set question in the later stages of Slams, Osaka’s openness adds a fresh voice to the chorus. And with her 2nd-round clash on the horizon, the former top seed looks ready, not just for more matches, but for more conversations that matter.

Naomi Osaka’s honest reaction after the Wimbledon opener win

Since returning from maternity leave early last year, Osaka’s journey back to the top has been anything but smooth. Flashes of her old brilliance have surfaced, like her 3rd-round run in Melbourne and solid performances in Miami and Rome, but consistency has remained elusive. And after a disappointing 2nd-round exit at Wimbledon in 2024, the threat of another early stumble loomed large. But this time, Osaka wasn’t ready to bow out just yet.

Facing Aussie qualifier Talia Gibson, who swung freely and fearlessly, Naomi Osaka found herself down 1-3 early in the 1st set. Yet, instead of unraveling, she rose with purpose. She steadied her nerves, reeled off key breaks, and stole the opener as Gibson’s errors crept in. But the 21-year-old Australian ace wasn’t done. 

In the 2nd set, Gibson surged to a 4-3 lead and twice served for the set. Still, the former top seed stayed composed, breaking back each time and showing the grit that once made her a GS juggernaut.

In the tiebreak, Naomi Osaka’s superior class shone through. Her poise under pressure proved the difference, sealing a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory and keeping her Wimbledon campaign alive.

“I think just making my match today, playing someone that I’ve never played before, and also getting over the first-round nerves was a little tricky,” Osaka later admitted after the win. “I’m glad that I did it, and I hope that I have many more matches to come.”

Up next, the Japanese star faces a tall task: either crafty Czech Katerina Siniakova or Olympic gold medalist and 5th seed Zheng Qinwen. 

Can Naomi Osaka finally string back-to-back wins and spark a run on the storied lawns of SW19? The answer may define her 2025 comeback on tour.