Roger Federer has explained his desire for best of five sets to return at some of the regular ATP tournaments as he reaches the semi-finals in Cincinnati.
The world number two reached the last four by edging out his compatriot Stan Wawrinka 6-7(2) 7-6(6) 6-2 in a highly competitive contest. The win was his second of the day as he set up a semi-final meeting with David Goffin after the Belgian defeated Juan Martin Del Potro in two tiebreaks.
After his epic win the 20 time grand slam champion was asked about the new Davis Cup reforms, which lead to him reaffirming his position on wanting more best out of five set matches on the ATP World Tour. The 37 year old claimed that he wants to see the format back at the ATP World Tour Finals in the future, “I’m for more five setters from time to time at some key events, starting with the World Tour Finals. I think the finals has to be best of five,” Federer explained.
“I was in the voting room when it happened, and all the players were for best of three. I couldn’t believe it. I was the last guy to vote, so it was, like, Well, it doesn’t matter what I say anymore, because all the other players voted for best of three. That was back in Shanghai in ’06? I’m not sure how long ago it was now.”
Federer’s opinion is certainly interesting considering what Novak Djokovic said the other day about wanting the grand slams to go to best of three sets instead of best of five sets. It is clear that Federer would like to see best of five sets to return to at least the World Tour Finals.
The Swiss legend also had his say on the new Davis Cup reforms and explained that it is a sad day but he is all for innovation to help the tournament grow, “So for me, I don’t know, I feel sad about it, you know, not to have the Davis Cup as it used to be. Will never be the same,” Federer stated.
“But clearly the ITF has never historically involved the players, but the federations, yeah, we’re kind of there but we’re actually not there. I just hope that every penny will be paid of that mass of money that has been paid for the next generation, because we have seen a similar situation way back when with the tour and it set us back in a big way. I don’t want that to happen again. But, look, I’m all for innovation, and gotta give them a chance to some extent. It will be interesting to see how it’s going to work.”
It is clear that Federer feels that the Davis Cup needed changing but now wants to see if the ITF can use their money in the correct money and fund talent for future generations. However for now, Federer is focusing on his business on the court and will face David Goffin in the last four of Cincinnati at 7pm local time.
