Serena Williams’ husband and Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, recently found himself in hot water with tennis fans after suggesting a controversial change in the men’s game.
While weighing in on the debate over gender equality in tennis, Ohanian questioned the value of best-of-five-set matches in men’s Grand Slam events. He called them confusing and less engaging than the three-set format typically used in the women’s game.
Fans React as Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Questions Relevance of Five-Set Battles in Men’s Tennis
Ohanian’s comments came just hours after the 2025 French Open final showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, a match that stretched to five hours and 29 minutes and ended in a dramatic five-set victory for Alcaraz. The marathon battle was widely celebrated as an instant classic.
But while many hailed the match, it also reignited discussions around equality between the men’s and women’s tours. One user reignited the issue online, writing, “Unfortunately, I believe women’s tennis will difficulty ever be seen as equal if they don’t play best-of-5 sets. There’s just no way you can mediatically compete with this in the eyes of the average spectator.”
Unfortunately, I believe women’s tennis will difficulty ever be seen as equal if they don’t play best-of-5 sets. There’s just no way you can mediatically compete with this in the eyes of the average spectator.
(Keep reading before jumping at me)
— Juan Ignacio (@juanignacio_ac) July 16, 2023
Rather than advocating for women to match the men’s format, Ohanian flipped the argument. He posted a screenshot of the tweet and offered a different perspective.
“As someone who discovered tennis through the women’s game, I fell in love with the drama of every point mattering,” he wrote on X. “When I finally watched a men’s match, I was confused. Five sets? It made the early games feel like warm-up acts instead of high-stakes battle. The tension was diluted, not heightened.”
As someone who discovered tennis through the women’s game, I fell in love with the drama of every point mattering. When I finally watched a men’s match, I was confused. Five sets? It made the early games feel like warm-up acts instead of high-stakes battle. The tension was… pic.twitter.com/9r50a2OT8b
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) June 9, 2025
The Reddit co-founder acknowledged the financial hurdles tied to such a shift, particularly regarding advertising, but stood by his argument that it could help players’ longevity and fan engagement: “There’s too much advertising revenue to change it, but I think it’d improve the men’s game, guys will play longer and healthier, and fewer half-empty stadiums at super late hours.”
There’s too much advertising revenue to change it, but I think it’d improve the men’s game, guys will play longer and healthier, and fewer half empty stadiums at super late hours
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) June 9, 2025
Ohanian’s post quickly gained traction on social media and stirred a wave of criticism from tennis fans and purists alike. One user fired back, “This is just crazy to say after Sunday. Non-watchers hear shit is going five sets and they tune in! There is no better advertisement for the sport. One incredible final makes all the scheduling issues and player wear worth it.”
Another wrote, “How dumb can you be… B05 is the best thing tennis has to offer. The ultimate test of mental and physical strength. No way to luck out. Also, every point still matters in B05. Any one point can influence the outcome of a match.”
Some accused Ohanian of letting personal bias seep into his opinion, with one fan pointing out, “Eh—you’re bias because you fell in love with the women’s game because you happened to be dating GOAT and had a personal connection to matches watched. The real fans are the ones who just love it for the love of the game and just want to see a great tennis match, which many 5-setters are—and they watch it without that personal connection so I would take their opinion over yours any day, casual fan.”
Others rejected the entire premise of comparing formats, noting, “I really hate bo3/bo5 discourse because it’s full of stupidity 😭 I don’t watch the WTA/ATP through the guise of them competing with one another. I watch them as it is and I think it’s great. I had no thoughts after sinner/alcaraz was about the WTA.”
Another fan questioned Ohanian’s sports credibility altogether: “‘The tension was diluted’. Did this man watch the same match we all did? Warm-up tennis? What are you on about? Perhaps, your tech executive skills doesn’t translate to sports just because you married an athlete? Food for thought.”
‘It’s just a petty get-back’ — Fans React to Ohanian Questioning Men’s Format
Some questioned the motive behind Ohanian’s opinion, interpreting it as a form of retaliation. “Taking away from the men’s game by downplaying the excitement of a 5-setter is not going to support women’s tennis the way you think. It’s just a petty get-back imo,” one user argued.
“I know you made this in response to that guy,” another wrote, “and your wife being the 🐐 (and my fav player male or female), but this is not a good take. The recent 5th set final is a testament to that. We have had many 5-set thrillers over the decades.”
