Two injury scares at the 2025 US Open sent shockwaves through tennis, but they also sparked a heated debate about tradition versus player safety. When Ben Shelton retired mid-match and Novak Djokovic grimaced his way through a back injury, former doubles World No. 1 Pam Shriver saw enough. Her solution? Scrap the best-of-five format at Grand Slams entirely.
Why Does Pam Shriver Want To Change Men’s Tennis at Grand Slams?
Shelton’s tournament ended in heartbreak during his third-round clash against Adrian Mannarino. The American, who had powered past qualifier Ignacio Buse and Pablo Carreño Busta in the opening rounds, couldn’t continue after four grueling sets. With the score locked at 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, his shoulder gave out before the deciding fifth set could begin.
Adrian Mannarino advances to Round 4 after Ben Shelton retires due to injury. pic.twitter.com/J05Vef3XVO
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 29, 2025
Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Djokovic faced his own injury scare during his third-round battle with Cameron Norrie. The Serbian veteran had cruised past Learner Tien and qualifier Zachary Svajda before meeting Norrie, but trouble struck late in the opening set. Serving at 5-3, Djokovic lunged for a volley at the net and immediately clutched his lower back in visible pain.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion managed to finish the game, but the concern was obvious. He called for the physio at the changeover, received courtside treatment, and took a medical timeout before returning to complete his victory. Unlike Shelton, Djokovic pushed through and secured his spot in the fourth round.
‘As young and strong as ever’ says @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/2qE2CGNCdB
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2025
These back-to-back incidents pushed Shriver to speak out about what she sees as an outdated system. The former doubles World No. 1 took to social media with a pointed message about the physical demands facing today’s players. She believes the traditional best-of-five format at Grand Slams needs to change to best-of-three sets for men’s singles.
“I understand the tradition of men playing 3 of 5 sets in majors, but given the way tennis is played now, the demands of more travel, more extreme heat & the depth in the game making early rounds more demanding, we need to have a shorter format. I hope Ben & Novak are ok,” Shriver posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
I understand the tradition of men playing 3 of 5 sets in majors, but given the way tennis is played now, the demands of more travel, more extreme heat & the depth in the game making early rounds more demanding, we need to have a shorter format. I hope Ben & Novak are ok.
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) August 30, 2025
Shriver’s argument centers on the evolution of professional tennis. She points to increased travel demands, extreme heat conditions, and the improved depth of competition that makes even early-round matches more physically taxing than in previous generations. These factors, she argues, create unnecessary injury risks that could be reduced with shorter matches.
While Shelton’s campaign ended with his painful retirement, Djokovic continues his quest for a fifth US Open title and 25th Grand Slam championship overall. The contrast between their outcomes highlights both the unpredictable nature of injuries and the physical demands that concern critics like Shriver.
Who Will Novak Djokovic Face in His Quest for a Fifth US Open Title?
Despite his injury scare against Norrie, Djokovic advances to face qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round. The German earned his main draw spot the hard way, grinding through three qualifying rounds before making his mark in the tournament proper.
Struff’s qualifying journey showcased his determination. He defeated Clément Chidekh 6-4, 6-1, and Taro Daniel 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, before securing his main draw berth with a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Arthur Cazaux in the third qualifying round.
His main draw performance has been even more impressive. After dispatching Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round, Struff stunned 11th seed Holger Rune with a five-set thriller, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. The German then reached the fourth round by defeating 17th seed Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7), proving he belongs among the tournament’s final 16 players.
History strongly favors Djokovic in their upcoming fourth-round meeting. The Serbian legend holds a perfect 7-0 record against Struff in their ATP Tour encounters, including their most recent clash at the 2021 Davis Cup Finals round-robin stage, where Djokovic cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
However, Struff’s current form and confidence from his impressive victories over seeded opponents suggest this matchup might not be as straightforward as their head-to-head record implies. The German has already proven he can handle the pressure of facing higher-ranked opponents on tennis’s biggest stages.
The winner of this fourth-round battle will advance to face either fourth seed Taylor Fritz or 21st seed Tomáš Macháč in the quarterfinals, keeping Djokovic’s path to a record 25th Grand Slam title alive while potentially validating Shriver’s concerns about the physical toll of five-set tennis.
