Novak Djokovic has called for significant changes to tennis scoring, saying the sport should modernise its format while preserving the excitement that makes Grand Slam tournaments unique.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion believes tennis should adopt four-game sets with no-ad scoring to shorten matches and make the sport easier to follow. Speaking on the Nick Knows Ball podcast, Djokovic said he would retain the best-of-five format at Grand Slams, which he considers one of tennis's biggest strengths.
"We should change the format of the scoring.
"Not play up to six games in the set, play it up to four, possibly no advantage. Best of five sets, keep the matches within a two hour window. It's best for everyone," Djokovic said.
The Serbian has repeatedly argued that tennis needs to evolve to attract younger audiences, particularly as sports such as padel and pickleball continue to grow in popularity. He believes the current scoring system can be difficult for new fans to understand and that a simpler format would benefit players, broadcasters and spectators.
His remarks come after another physically demanding Grand Slam season that included several lengthy matches, most notably a gruelling five-set Wimbledon quarter-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Shorter sets, same Grand Slam intensity
Djokovic's proposal would significantly alter the structure of tennis matches. Reducing sets from six games to four and introducing no-ad scoring would make every point more valuable, with a single service break potentially deciding an entire set.
Such a system could also increase the likelihood of lower-ranked players upsetting top seeds, particularly on faster courts where serves play a dominant role. However, Djokovic believes retaining the best-of-five format would preserve the momentum shifts, tactical battles and endurance that define Grand Slam tennis.
The Serbian has experienced both sides of marathon contests this season. He defeated Jannik Sinner in a five-set Australian Open semi-final before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final. At Wimbledon, he overcame Felix Auger-Aliassime in another five-set battle before being beaten by Sinner in the semi-finals. He also surrendered a two-set lead in a five-set defeat to Joao Fonseca at Roland Garros.
Tennis continues to explore change
Djokovic's comments come as tennis continues to debate ways of making the sport more appealing to modern audiences. Exhibition events such as the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) have already experimented with shorter formats, including timed quarters and simplified scoring systems.
While Djokovic is not proposing changes of that scale, he believes reducing the length of sets while retaining five-set matches at Grand Slams would strike the right balance between tradition and innovation.
According to the Serbian, such reforms would help preserve the drama of tennis's biggest tournaments while making the sport more accessible and easier to follow for a new generation of fans.
