Novak Djokovic has never been shy about voicing his opinions on the state of tennis, but his latest suggestion may be his most controversial yet.

Ahead of his round-of-64 clash with Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante at the Cincinnati Open, his first tournament since Wimbledon, the 24-time Grand Slam champion floated a proposal to overhaul the sport’s scoring system entirely.

As co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), Djokovic has long been an advocate for change in the sport, but his proposal has not gone down well.

The Changes To Tennis Djokovic Has Proposed

The 39-year-old wants sets shortened from six games to four and the advantage rule scrapped altogether, arguing it would make matches faster and more watchable. The idea has split the tennis world, drawing sharp criticism from a two-time major winner while earning cautious interest from one of the sport’s current top-five stars.

Speaking to Nick Knows Ball, Djokovic laid out his case for change: “We have to change the scoring system. Sets should no longer be played to six games, but to four. I would also scrap the advantage. And if the Grand Slam matches continued with the best-of-five-sets system, they would take only around two hours. That would be better for everyone.”

Under the current ATP format, players must win six games by a two-game margin to take a set, with a tie-break triggered at 6-6. Most tour-level matches are best-of-three, while the four Grand Slams remain best-of-five. Djokovic, who is chasing a 25th major title at the US Open later this month having gone without a Slam since 2023, believes trimming the format down would benefit fans and players alike.

Djokovic Savaged Over Controversial Proposal

Marko Djurica via Reuters

The response has been far from positivr. Two-time Grand Slam winner Yevgeny Kafelnikov didn’t hold back during an appearance on First&Red, declaring: “It’s absurd! It’s nonsense beyond belief. If this happens, I will be completely disappointed with tennis.”

Former French pro Julien Benneteau was similarly unconvinced, saying: “I understand that it can make the opening games more important, whereas some match beginnings can be boring. But tomorrow, will we have ten-minute football matches? Tennis is also the drama that leads to the end of sets. I think it’s the easy way out.”

World number five Ben Shelton offered a more balanced view of Djokovic suggestion. The American struck a more open-minded tone when speaking at the Canadian Open, while still stopping short of saying he was in favour of it.

“It was interesting coming from him, because he’s always been the guy who’s the fittest on tour… But I think it would be an interesting change, for sure. I would be interested to play some matches in this format.”

Whether the proposal ever gains traction with the ATP remains to be seen, but Djokovic has once again shown he’s willing to challenge tennis tradition even as he continues chasing history on court. Attention now turns to Cincinnati, and eventually the US Open, where his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title continues.

Aston Villa are ‘one to watch’ in the race for Zion Suzuki after his move to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed, with club-to-club talks underway, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.

The Villans have had a busy summer window so far, bringing in Johan Manzambi in a club-record deal, while they have also signed Joao Gomes, Alejandro Garnacho, and sealed an agreement with Atletico Madrid for Matteo Ruggeri too, as the club prepare for their return to the Champions League.

But their window has also been filled with speculation surrounding the future of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and it now seems that the club could potentially look to prepare themselves by signing a top goalkeeper.

Aston Villa director of football operations Damian Vindagny has come out publicly to say that the Argentina international will not be leaving this summer.

Now, GIVEMESPORT sources understand that there is interest from Villa Park in a move for Japan international Suzuki after his move to PSG collapsed.

The 23-year-old, who has been described as a ‘phenomenon’, was all set to join the French and European champions after a €35m (£30m) deal was agreed with Parma, and personal terms were agreed. The player was even due to undergo a medical imminently, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that a private jet had been sent for him.

However, after issues with the player’s camp and a change in the commissions being paid, PSG have decided to pull out of the deal, leaving the door open for Aston Villa to swoop.

GIVEMESPORT sources understand that talks are now underway between Aston Villa and Parma over an agreement, with hope a deal can be completed before the September 1st deadline.

Emi Martinez missed the midweek defeat to PSG in the UEFA Super Cup, with Emery handing him, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins extra time off after their World Cup excursions in the summer.

Casillas: Suzuki Can Become World-Class

Action Images

Suzuki represented Japan at the World Cup this summer, starting all four of their games as they were eliminated by Brazil in the first knockout round.

But during the tournament, he caught the attention of Real Madrid and Spain legend Iker Casillas, who stated that he envisions the Parma star becoming world-class in the future.

“He is the only young goalkeeper I have seen who I think could one day replace Courtois and establish himself at Real Madrid. He has composure, courage, and most importantly, personality.

“What really impressed me was not just the saves, but also his decision-making, positioning, and stability under pressure. Facing one of the strongest attacks in international football, he never seemed flustered. This shows that he is a special goalkeeper.”

Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has responded to transfer speculation after being linked with a switch to Premier League champions Arsenal.

The Nigerian talisman is among the best strikers in world football and has often been touted for a big move to England. Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness Podcast, Ben Jacobs confirmed Osimhen’s name had come up in discussions at the Emirates.

However, one of many potential stumbling blocks in a potential transfer is the 27-year-old’s astronomical wages. Osimhen is the highest-paid player in the Turkish Super Lig, earning more (£307,000-per-week) than Mohamed Salah and N’Golo Kante.

Victor Osimhen Refuses to Rule Out Arsenal Move

Following his club’s most recent game, a 2-2 draw with Corum on the opening day of the Turkish league season, Osmihen responded to transfer rumours linking him with a move away from the club.

When asked about the links to Arsenal, he refused to rule out any possibility. “There are always rumours during the transfer windows,” he said (per Metro). “I’ll focus on my job. I’m focused on my work. We’ll see and think about what comes next then.”

His comments came after Osimhen appeared to head into the stands to apologise to Galatasaray fans following the disappointing draw. Watch the video below.

“It’s going to be a tough season. The team is aware of that,” the ex-Napoli striker said in his post-match interview. Osimhen did stress his commitment to the Turkish giants, as he continued:

Osimhen Has Premier League ‘Dream’

Back in 2023, while still playing for Napoli, Osimhen publicly spoke about his ‘dream’ of playing in the English top-flight one day. Per Sky Sports, he said: “I think playing in one of the top five leagues in the world is an amazing feeling for me

“A lot of people worldwide consider the Premier League as the best and the strongest league but now I’m in one of the best leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.

“I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League some day, but like I said, it’s a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well.”

It suggests a potential switch to the Premier League champions could be of interest to Osimhen. Whether Mikel Arteta’s side will make a concrete move remains to be seen.