PETE ZIEBRON
Ernests Gulbis upset Tommy Haas and was one of nine men to come back from two sets down in 1st round action at the 2012 US Open. Pete Ziebron Images
Grand Slam tennis on the men's side features best-of-five matches in each and every one of the seven rounds. As a result, fitness, stamina and endurance all play a role in one's ability to persevere and win a long match.
A few weeks ago in Cincinnati, several players were asked if they would prefer the best-of-three format that was featured during the London Olympics. Nearly all of the ATP players that were asked stated that they like the best-of-five just the way it stands.
Roger Federer: "We shouldn't make it a two‑week event then, I don't think, because then it's like a holiday."
Andy Murray: "I like the best‑of‑five format in the slams. I think, you know, that extra, I don't know, mental effort and physical effort, you see the rewards that you put in off the court in the slams really. I think that is one of the added benefits of the best‑of‑five set matches. You get to see that from the players, and you get to see how much work they put in in the gym, as well."
Novak Djokovic: "It's been a tradition of this sport for many years, and we all try to respect the tradition. I think that is why tennis is so global and respected throughout the world, because we keep our tradition, keep our tournaments.
Through the first three days of the 2012 US Open, nine men rallied from two sets down to win the next three sets in their 1st round match to advance to the 2nd round. The ability to exhibit the extra effort that Andy Murray referenced throughout the course of the match was on display for the following players:
- Philipp Petzschner GER d. Nicolas Mahut FRA
1-6 4-6 6-4 7-5 7-6(3)
- Paul-Henri Mathieu FRA d. Igor Andreev RUS
2-6 4-6 7-6(1) 7-6(4) 6-1
- Marin Cilic (12) CRO d. Marinko Matosevic AUS
5-7 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-4
- Janko Tipsarevic (8) SRB d. Guillaume Rufin FRA
4-6 3-6 6-2 6-3 6-2
- Ernests Gulbis LAT d. Tommy Haas (21) GER
3-6 4-6 6-4 7-5 6-3
- Gilles Muller LUX d. Mikhail Youzhny (28) RUS
2-6 3-6 7-5 7-6(6) 7-6(6)
- Fabio Fognini ITA d. Edouard Roger-Vasselin FRA
3-6 5-7 6-4 6-4 7-5
- Guillermo Garcia-Lopez ESP d. Juan Monaco (10) ARG
3-6 1-6 6-4 7-6(6) 7-6(3)
- Alexandr Dolgopolov (14) UKR d. Jesse Levine USA
3-6 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-2
Despite all of this excitement at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, each of these matches has taken place on the outer courts. Inside of Arthur Ashe Stadium the victors have tallied 36 sets won compared to only 1 set won by the losing player. Opting to purchase a Grounds Pass rather than spending the extra money to see the top players in the sport on Ashe is the logical choice for tennis aficionados.