In 1996, Madison Square Garden was the scene of a historic moment that women’s tennis enjoyed and, to this day, some current wants to bring back. The famous fifth set.
Steffi Graf enjoyed it and Martina Hingis suffered it. Two of the best exponents of the moment led a duel as changing as the final result marks: 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 4-6 and 6-0.
To this day, this was the last fifth set between women that the women’s circuit gave. Two years later, in 1998, it would be the Swiss herself who would take the last game in those conditions beating Lindsay Davenport in the final of the Masters in four sets (7-5, 6-4, 4-6 and 6-2).
The next year the format of the WTA Finals was changed because the players arrived tired, which was the end of the season just when the most important moment came.
Much later the issue is put on the table again. It is a long time. Inside the court.
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