Follow us on Google Discover Bill Simmons has doubled down on his hot take about Grand Slam tennis matches taking too long.
Simmons shared his controversial opinion on social media earlier this week, ahead of the 2026 US Open quarter-finals.
Many tennis fans will now consider the QFs a perfect example of why he is completely wrong about best-of-five-set matches.
Ben Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller, while Frances Tiafoe beat Alex Michelsen from two sets down.
Even though the US Open QFs produced some all-time great battles, Simmons reiterated that they took too long.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesBill Simmons says tennis matches are too long despite epic US Open quarter-final
Bill Simmons explained earlier this week that tennis matches should never take 4.5 hours, as they often do at the Grand Slams.
There have been many examples of five-set matches taking over 4 hours at this year’s US Open, and fans generally enjoy the drama.
However, Simmons insisted that nothing designed for entertainment should take so long, no matter how impressive it is.
He said, “Tennis matches are too long. We’ve lost the narrative with this. These guys are too good. These matches are routinely 4.5 hours now, and I just think it’s absurd.
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“I’ve talked about this forever – I don’t think anything should be 4.5 hours: movies, sporting events, a dinner, anything.
“I don’t want to do anything for 4.5 hours that is supposed to be entertainment. I just think they really have to rethink this.
“All the tennis purists are going to be like, ‘That’s crazy. F– you. Go f— yourself.’ I get it.
“But I think they should seriously think about changing the sets from six [games] to five to win the set.”
When asked about the incredible match between Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen, Simmons doubled down on his take.
Anthony Dubbundo wrote: “22 combined unforced errors in the first seven games of the Tiafoe/Michelson 4th set. This is the tennis that Bill Simmons wants to take away from you.”
Simmons responded: “I’m watching — I’ve carved out the next 3 hours for the 4th and 5th sets.”
The sports podcaster is clearly not going to change his mind, but the majority of tennis fans disagree with his take.
The two men’s quarter-final matches on Tuesday night were spectacular, and it would have been a shame to cut them short.
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