If Slams were best of three, Djokovic would have had just 14 titles

As has been the case in the first week of French Open, statistics show that five-setters are a true test of a player's skills and temperament.

Tsitsipas, Zverev and Alcaraz proved that it takes more than talent to prevail in Grand Slams.

The first week of a Grand Slam usually sets the tone for the rest of the fortnight. The men’s draw – played in the best-of-five-sets format – usually produces predictable, lopsided results, while the best-of-three women’s draw throws up plenty of upsets.

Roland Garros has stayed true to that this week. Taylor Fritz, seeded 13th, is the highest-ranked men’s player to fall so far, while only three of the top eight seeds are left in the women’s draw. Barbora Krejcikova still reeling from an elbow injury lost in the first round.

There have been calls to do away with the best-of-five format altogether. Due to long matches and complicated schedules, tennis has struggled to compete with other sports for younger viewership, and the likes of Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev have called for a format change in the past. Invariably, the best-of-three format throws up more upsets, but as has been the case in the first week in Paris, the better player over the long run is favoured over five.

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The mental and physical effort

Carlos Alcaraz – who is in the unique, albeit tricky, position of arriving at a Major as the favourite despite being a teenager – prevailed in five sets over compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Wednesday. He did, however, show that he felt the weight of expectations. The 19-year-old struggled to cope with his opponent’s heavy forehand, made several errors on his backhand side, and the timing was off on his two biggest strengths – the powerful forehand and the usually well-disguised drop shot.

Men’s tennis’ fabled ‘Big 3’ –Nadal, Djokovic and Federer – and the race among them for the Grand Slam record, have dominated the narrative in men’s tennis in recent years. Nadal currently leads with 21 Majors, while Federer and Djokovic have 20.

Alcaraz trailed 2-1 in sets before he was able to reset mentally, save a match point in the fourth set and win it in five, and put on a show on Court Simonne Mathieu using his natural power and court coverage. Alcaraz’s triumph of grit and perseverance showed that despite all his evident talent to win in best-of-three matches, it takes something more to win at a Major.

Carlos Alcaraz with one of the best plays you’ll see all day 🎇

The 19-year old is currently +250 to take home the gold at Roland Garros 🏆pic.twitter.com/nMHI1mdn6T

— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) May 25, 2022

Two other top guns needed to produce five-set comebacks in Paris this week. Last year’s finalist and fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas overturned a two-set deficit in the first round against Lorenzo Musetti on Tuesday. The Italian – whose one-handed backhand has already produced plenty of highlight-reel moments in his young career – was also 2-0 up over Djokovic last year. While the last three sets were not as lopsided as they were against the Serb – Musetti even had an early break in the fourth this time – his legs gave way before the more experienced Tsitsipas dug deep to win 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

What. A. Comeback.

Alexander Zverev rallies from two sets down AND saves a match point to advance. #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PalANHQbMC

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) May 25, 2022

Third seed Alexander Zverev was also forced to overturn a two-set deficit in the second round against Sebastian Baez. After quickly racing to a two-set lead, the Argentine had a match point in the fifth, before Zverev weathered the storm and won 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5. “You just have to find a way,” the German said in his post-match press conference. “You talk about mental strength, you talk about some players — the greats, Roger, Rafa, Novak – they always find a way in the most difficult moments.”

For the two sets to love lead 🤌

Bravo, @steftsitsipas #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/eEP47F4ltZ

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022

‘Big 3’ domination

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If Majors were best-of-three though, they would still likely be far ahead of the chasing pack. Both Nadal and Federer have come back from trailing positions three times to win a Major, while Djokovic has plotted a comeback a whopping six times. The trio also have a remarkable number of five-set wins to their name. Djokovic leads with 36, while Federer has won 33 and Nadal 24.

The Serb’s superior record in comebacks and five-set wins would hardly be a surprise to his fans, given the trademark physical and mental resilience that has come to define his legacy. His record is also proof that the best players – few can argue Djokovic is one of the best in history – are rewarded over five sets.

The Big 3’s rivalry with each other has been defined by some of the best five-set matches of the modern era.

Namit Kumar

Namit Kumar is a Senior Sports Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. He is known for his versatile reporting across several major sports disciplines. Professional Profile Specializations: He covers a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, cricket, and motorsports. Focus: His writing often delves into the finer details and technical analysis of the sports he covers. Social Media: You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @namitkumar_17. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Namit’s recent work focuses heavily on international cricket series and domestic tournaments, as well as high-profile global tennis events: International Cricket (India vs South Africa Series): "Intelligence, skill, and heart: How Arshdeep Singh took out Reeza Hendricks" (Dec 15, 2025) — A detailed analysis of Arshdeep's tactical comeback in the T20I series. "How India's seamers froze South Africa in chilly Dharamshala" (Dec 14, 2025). "Why India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill losing form, is the start of a blunt headache" (Dec 12, 2025) — An analytical piece on the statistics and form of India's leadership duo. "Quinton de Kock dismantles Indian bowling combination with silent savagery" (Dec 11, 2025). Domestic Cricket (Ranji Trophy): "Ranji Trophy: J&K conquer Kotla and Delhi for first time" (Nov 11, 2025) — Reporting on the historic first win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi in the tournament's history. "What makes J&K pacer Auqib Nabi special" (Nov 8, 2025) — A profile on the pacer's accuracy and swing. "Unearthing the next Virat Kohli still a while away but Delhi's young batting talent full of promise" (Oct 24, 2025). Tennis and Golf: "Jannik Sinner's winter-time madness: How Italian refined his game to beat Alcaraz" (Nov 17, 2025) — A deep dive into Sinner’s technical improvements following his US Open loss. "Everyone's come to watch Rory McIlroy but keep an eye out for 'people's champion' Tommy Fleetwood" (Oct 17, 2025). Football Tactics: "Why are long throw-ins giving football defenders and lawmakers a headache?" (Nov 2, 2025) — An analytical piece on the evolving strategies surrounding throw-ins in modern football. Reporting Style Namit is active in covering the Delhi sports scene, providing detailed match reports for international cricket matches and Ranji Trophy fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He also provides on-the-ground reporting for happenings in the city, such as his recent coverage of the DP World India Championship golf event. Additionally, he actively writes on tennis, analysing matches and reporting on major events, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments. ... Read More