This is the MOST RIDICULOUS article that I've read in this blog.

Terrible article, it is quite clear you have no idea what you're on about.

This is unreal. First off, men play best of 3 in everything except Grand Slams and the Masters Cup final. The reason men are hurt more is because of the level of play being more physical and overall better. You are absolutely crazy.

Men's tennis produces more injuries because they play 5 set matches, four times a year in Slams? Where did you pull this fact from? Compare the Men's Masters tournaments to the women's tier-1 events, when was the last time all top 20 women ever entered together? Men do not have more injuries than female players, it's the other way around. I have to say this is a poorly written, ill-researched piece of journalism.

J.R you're an idiot lol

First off guys, take a chill pill...he,he...please. The article that I wrote was mighty different from what's posted here. In fact, the heading, sub-heading and LOTS of the words in the article were changed. I'll just have to let Sportingo know I'm not happy with the outcome at all. It makes me seem like I'm favoring the women over the men. And I don't. I truly love the ATP & the WTA equally. I wrote this article because I volunteered this year at the Sony Ericsson Open. I talked with Rafa, Federer, Roddick, Davydenko and a host of other top ten players. And for the record, Blake complimented me on my calves. I was in charge of helping the VIP's from the locker-room to on-site rooms for their "chill-out" time basically. So TRUST me, I know that all tournaments except the Slams are best-of-three set matches. I asked those guys if they wish the Slams were best-of-three as well and they ALL SAID YES. They said it should be equal, whether the women play five sets or the men go down to three. And I'm sorry, but I know more about tennis than most people alive. And YES most men are injured during the Slams because they play longer. Look it up. Most injuries that the men players receive come during a Slam or the Davis Cup when they're over-playing tennis. I didn't make it that way, it just is. Women get injured equally, but it's usually the SAME injury repeated over their least successful surface. Again, if you don't believe me, look it up. But don't insult the author when you don't know what they truly wrote in the first place. I love writing here at Sportingo, but my last two articles were exactly what I wrote. This is NOT what I wrote originally, and I'm going to ask them NOT to make my writing look so one-sided. I don't think Roger Federer is hanging on to 5 set matches, the ATP is. I hate word changes like that. Thanks to all who read and express a clear opinion, whether you think the Slams should be 5 or 3 sets. Wanting to watch more tennis is one thing. But I don't want to do it at the expense of the men's players putting their bodies and lengthy careers in danger.

I will say something and maybe I'll get more ire from this, but oh well. I find a LOT of guys are pretty sexist. Yes, yes...I said the S word. But it's true. Ask male tennis players to play as much as the women and they freak out. They think the women should play as much as the real men. Whatever. A 3 set match can be just as thrilling as a 5 setter. If anything, the fourth and fifth set are usually VERY anti-climactic to begin with. I mean how many times has Roger Federer won 6-2 in the fourth or final set? Thank you. Lots of guys think that they're better or stronger players than the women tennis players just because they have something dangling in between their legs. And you're not. I hit the ball with women who'll blast ANY man off the court. Did this generation TOTALLY not go on Youtube and watch Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the Battle Of The Sexes? I did. A woman can out play a man any day of the week and it doesn't take testicles or blasting a 140mph serve to do it. So men, let's grow up and look at the women's game for what it is. A reflection of our own. Thank you.

if women areequal and wan to be treated "equally" why dont they play 5 setters then ?

Genetically, women don't have the same muscle structure as men, this isn't an opinion, but more factual. A woman can work out the same amount of time with the same amount of fitness and her body won't develop like males. This is seen through their service speed as well as other areas. That is why women get their service broken more frequently and you see more long rallies with few winners, with more unforced errors being the decider of the point. I don't agree with your title, how many grandslams has sharapova won compared to federer? What was the competition compared to a rafael nadal? Is there anyone in the women's side who competes like rafael? No, so it's disappointing to hear you make that comparision.

Let's stick with five set matches, but to really relieve the pressure on bodies -- male AND female -- how bout converting many of the hardcourt tourneys to grass? Then gradually phase wooden racquets back in. Not only might there be fewer injuries, but tennis would be so much more interesting to watch. Players might even learn net games again, making them ""complete" players.

battle of the sexes...what about connors vs navratilova. connors beat her something like 7-5, 6-2, his side of the court was 3 feet wider and he only got 1 serve(she was also ranked much much higher than him at the time.

I can't believe this is a real article. The cluelessness throughout the article is absurd.

If you know more about tennis than anyone, you should also remember how the women likeliest to 'blast' ANY man off the court(lol, the funniest thing written!), the Williamses, were soundly whipped 6-1, and 6-2 by an aging, chain-smoking drunk 200-ranked ATP player. I do agree that the ATP-WTA disparity is not fair, given equal pay. Women cannot play five-setters. I remember a WTA year-end match between Steffi and HIngis that had 5 sets, I think at least 2 of them were 6-0 sets. Quality will suffer on the women's side. They get exhausted quickly enough as it is. And so many of the most memorable matches of all time have been 5-setters. This format benefits the rhythm player like Nadal. I would still retain the 5-set format in Grand Slams, and reduce prize money for women(I am not sexist, it is common sense, women cannot play that long, men do it routinely, and should be rewarded for the extra effort). Look at the MIami final this year, won 6-4, 6-2 by Davydenko. He played awesome, but if it went to best of five, I would pick Nadal.

com on m8 this is a bit of a stupid article

Are you sure you watch tennis? LOL You should be fired pronto!

Yeah right - of course it wasn't what you originally wrote. A bad workman always blames his tools.

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Be serious. Women can not play 3 out of 5 sets. These women have had injuries and no telling how many more injuries they would have had if they were force to play 3 out of 5. Not even Martina would have been able to keep up. You have to be realistic and not in denial.