Rick Macci Urges ATP to Scrap Five-Set Format to Protect Players From Violent Physicality of Modern Game

Serena Williams' former coach Rick Macci tells the ATP to shorten Grand Slam matches to three sets to prevent injuries in an increasingly violent modern game.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 3:20 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

A Call for Structural Reform in Major Tournaments

The escalating frequency of injuries among the world’s top tennis players has prompted legendary coach Rick Macci to demand a fundamental change to the sport’s most prestigious events. Macci, who famously guided the early careers of Serena Williams, believes that the ATP and Grand Slam organizers must "flip the script" by abandoning the best-of-five-sets format. Under his proposed model, men’s matches at the majors would transition to a best-of-three-sets structure, concluded by a 10-point tiebreaker in the third set. According to Macci, the current system forces athletes to repeatedly push their bodies through exhaustive five-set marathons, a cycle that significantly heightens the probability of debilitating physical breakdowns.

The Evolution of a More Violent Sport

Macci’s argument for reform is rooted in the dramatic evolution of tennis technology and athleticism over recent decades. He noted on his X account that the modern tour is a vastly different environment than the one inhabited by previous generations, characterized by travel demands and mandatory play that operate at an entirely new level. The "wildcard" in this equation, according to Macci, is the sheer physicality of the men’s game. With advanced racquets, specialized strings, and the explosive power of today’s athletes, the sport has become more dynamic, explosive, and ultimately violent. This increased intensity means that every set played exerts a far higher toll on the joints and tendons than in years past.

Global Stars Sideline as Physical Toll Mounts

The debate over player welfare has gained urgency following the high-profile absence of Carlos Alcaraz from the 2026 clay-court season. Alcaraz is the most prominent figure in a growing list of competitors currently sidelined by physical ailments, a trend Macci believes is no coincidence. The veteran coach suggests that when players are required to engage in "five stay alive" battles and then repeat that effort multiple times over a fortnight, the risk of injury becomes almost inevitable. By reducing the match length, Macci argues that the sport can preserve its biggest stars and ensure that tournaments are decided by skill rather than by which athlete can best survive a war of attrition.