Women's tennis: Why only three sets?

[wadea]

In this day of gender equity and Title IX, why in the world are women's tennis matches still best of three sets? Does anyone really believe that they lack the stamina to continue? Disregard the fact that nobody's watching anyway.

And another nit-picky note: Why is 30-30 never called deuce when it plays exactly the same as deuce i.e. you need to win two points in a row to win. 40-30 should be called advantage server since the server will win the set with the next point. Yet, for some reason they only use the term deuce when the score ties at 40-40. More evidence that I should be in charge of everything.

[DrewDevil]

I don't think anyone wants to listen to the cacophony of whining and complaining that would result if the matches were changed to 5 sets.

[sylar]

deuce indicates that at least one player faced a game point or a break point and rallied to tie.

as for 5 setters. can you really listen to that much grunting and yelling? i'd say shorten the matches to 1 set.

[Russ M.]

Most of the women on the WTA tour would never last to a 5th set. The level of play would degrade immensely, likely to the point of embarrassment.

[Dudd]

[ QUOTE ]
Most of the women on the WTA tour would never last to a 5th set. The level of play would degrade immensely, likely to the point of embarrassment.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is sort of a circular answer though. Currently, 3 sets are the norm, so that's what women train for. Increasing that to 5 would change the training practices, where maybe they would be able to last 5 sets. Women seem to do fine in many more grueling endurance events, I don't see why 5 sets is beyond them.

[Russ M.]

Yeah I understand your point. I've heard/read many women on the tour say that they'd never make it through 5 sets currently but I do wonder how long it would take for women to condition themselves for 5 setters. I can't imagine how far Serena's game would fall off in a 5th set.

[Colt McCoy]

It doesn't take more than 3 sets to rub one out. Why would they make it longer?

[DrewDevil]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah I understand your point. I've heard/read many women on the tour say that they'd never make it through 5 sets currently but I do wonder how long it would take for women to condition themselves for 5 setters. I can't imagine how far Serena's game would fall off in a 5th set.

[/ QUOTE ]

Colt, that was awesome.

Serena's going to be nothing but two enormous breasts and an even bigger booty in 2 years (someone mspaint plskthx), so I don't think she'd welcome the change.

[Your Mom]

Sharapova, the #1 player in the world, could barely make it through 3 sets in the first round of one of the 4 majors. Seems pretty obv the quality of play would be terrible.

[g-bebe]

[ QUOTE ]
Why only three sets?

[/ QUOTE ]

Why the hell would anyone want to listen to it for another 2 sets?