‘Did You Think Like This 20 Years Ago?’ – Kim Clijsters Pushes Back on Novak Djokovic’s Four-Game Set Idea

Novak Djokovic hasn’t been one to shy away from challenging the status quo. And his recent tennis opinion about changing the men’s game’s traditional scoring format has sparked a debate. The 24-time Grand Slam champion floated the idea of best-of-five sets played to four games instead of six, with possibly no-ad scoring. And former pro and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters does not think it’s a great idea.

Kim Clijsters and Blair Henley React to Novak Djokovic’s Controversial Four-Game Set Suggestion

While attending Fanatics Fest in New York, when asked by podcaster Nick Koutrakos what one tennis take he would defend regardless of the hate he might get, Djokovic said:

“We should change the format of the scoring. Not play up to six games in a set, but play up to four. Possibly no ad, best of five sets. Keep the matches within a two-hour window. It’s best for everyone.”

Djokovic’s target is simple. He believes that match durations under two hours will help to keep the sport competitive against fast-growing sports like pickleball and padel, and make broadcasts more appealing to younger audiences.

However, his idea raised many eyebrows. In the “Love All Podcast with Kim Clijsters,” broadcaster and tennis analyst Blair Henley pointed out that Djokovic’s plan looks like ATP’s experimental NextGen Finals format. She also joked about the obvious personal upside for a legend at the dusk of his career. “Also, of course, he is 39, and I’m sure he would love that.”

Clijsters echoed the sentiment, playfully questioning the Serbian’s timing. “Did you think like this 20 years ago?” While she understands the motive, Clijsters voiced concern that such shortening would compromise the sport’s uniqueness.

“Do you buy into what people say about if tennis were shorter, people would be able to invest more… and also watch full matches? I don’t know. I think there’s nothing greater than seeing a four or five-hour match.”

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For the four-time Grand Slam champion, it’s just a widespread assumption that shorter matches will attract more fans. “To have a few of them (long matches) in a tournament, especially if you can have a Novak against Sinner or Novak against Rafa… those moments, I feel, stand out so much in the history of our sport. And it would be a shame if we don’t have that,”the Belgian added.

The Serb, now 39, is looking to win his historic 25th Grand Slam. Next up, he will play the Cincinnati Masters, where he is a three-time winner.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.