Federer Thinks ATP Finals Should be Best of Five Sets

Written by: Staff on 29th November 2011

Federer Thinks ATP Finals Should be Best of Five Sets |

There was only one widespread criticism of the climax this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London and the most pertinent dissenting voice was that of champion Roger Federer who lead the cry for a final of such importance to be played over the best of five sets instead of three.

Federer was the lone voice asking for a full best-of-five final when the leading players were polled when the event was called the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai four years ago. The final was subsequently scaled down to bet-of-three sets for the last year of its’ Chinese stay and the three London finals so far have all been played over the shorter format.

“I think a match of this importance should be over five set,” said Federer after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a three set thriller. “I do care actually. I think it makes for a great year-end.

“Back in 2007 I remember sitting in a room in Shanghai where players were asked, Would you like the year?end final to be five sets or three sets,? Kind of went in a circle. Everyone said best?of?three sets. I was the only guy that said, I think we should have best?of?five sets.”

Before Tsonga staged a characteristic comeback, it appeared as though Sunday’s final would extend no more than one and a quarter hours. In the end it stretched to two hours 18 minutes. “We had the whole scenario in this final,” said Federer. “If it’s a match like this, it’s fine.

“But I would have served it out when I had the chance, it would have been over in a hurry. I think I almost felt the spectators weren’t quite ready for it to end. Sure, you can see why maybe it’s healthier to play best?of?three sets. But maybe the year?end could be a best?of?five set match. I do believe that.”

Federer lost out in an immense five set contest in the 2005 final in Shanghai, suffering defeat against David Nalbandian 6–7, 6–7, 6–2, 6–1, 7–6. Lleyton Hewitt won 7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 2–6, 6–4 against Juan Carlos Ferrero three years earlier. And in what is regarded as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time, Pete Sampras beat Boris Becker 3–6, 7–6, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 in the 1996 final staged in Hanover.

Meanwhile the official post tournament report from the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals said a total 250,256 fans went through the doors of the London 02 Arena, with ten out of 15 sessions reaching a full capacity of 17,500.

The event also drew record audiences on TV and online. Approximately 95 million viewers in 184 countries watched the tournament on TV across the 8 days, a 60% increase on 2010. The ATP’s official websites and live scoring received a record 9 million visits during the week, a 30% increase on last year’s event.

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”

Topics: ATP World Tour Finals, Roger Federer