Ben Shelton and Novak Djokovic’s US Open Struggles Spark Outrage Over Grueling Slam Rule

The 2025 US Open has witnessed multiple health concerns for athletes so far. First, we saw Sebastian Korda pulling out during his first-round match against Cameron Norrie. Jack Draper withdrew just before his second-round match owing to the bone bruising in his left humerus. And now, we saw Ben Shelton pull out of his match against Adrian Mannarino, because of a shoulder injury. On top of that, Novak Djokovic was forced to take an early medical timeout because of his lower back. While injuries are a part of the sport, Shelton’s withdrawal and Djokovic’s medical timeout sparked an unexpected outrage. 

Pam Shriver, a 22-time major champion herself, slammed the Grand Slam rules for men. To be specific, she attacked the Grand Slams for requiring the male athletes to compete in a best-of-five-sets match. The text read, “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.” 

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

What do you think of the issue here? Do you think tennis should be played for just three rounds? 

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