Fonseca on Djokovic’s proposal to shorten matches: “He is getting older”
Brazilian João Fonseca says he tried a shorter format and understood the appeal, but defends the traditional six-game set and suggests Djokovic’s proposal may reflect his aging.
August 7, 2026 — João Fonseca, the Brazilian on the ATP Tour, reacted to Novak Djokovic’s recent suggestion to shorten professional matches, saying he tried a similar format and had a positive experience but also pointing to tradition and Djokovic’s own motives.
Djokovic proposed several changes: sets shortened to four games instead of the traditional six, matches decided by the first player to win three sets, and the removal of advantage points when a game reaches 40–40.
“I played in this format at Next Gen and had a good experience,” Fonseca said, adding: “So I can't complain about that. But I think Novak is proposing this because of his physical abilities. He is getting older,” Fonseca said with a smile.
Fonseca framed the debate as one between innovation and heritage. He stressed that while the experiment had merit, the six-game set remains “classic” and historically central to tennis.
“I'm not saying it's a good or bad proposal. But it's classic tennis, history... It has always been played to six games and I think that is important,” Fonseca emphasized.
He also acknowledged the viewer angle: some matches last many hours, and shortening formats could make tennis more accessible to audiences who cannot spend an entire day watching a single match.
Photo: ATP/Tviter
