Another year another Wimbledon tournament, and we know what that means: ripe strawberries drizzled with cream, neatly manicured lawns, and the ongoing debate over whether the sport is institutionally sexist.

The offensive commentators, macho players who feel the need to drag down their female counterparts, and the questionable dress-code. It’s undeniable that tennis has a woman problem. And the fact that women aren’t allowed to play the same number of sets as men for reasons no-one can quite pin down, might go some way towards explaining why. It places gender inequality at the heart of the sport. And as Wimbledon is watched by 300million viewers across 200 countries, and almost half a million spectators visit the grounds in London in a fortnight, that’s a lot of people to be sending a sexist message to.

Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Show all 50 1 /50 Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Andy Murray walks of court with the trophy past the ball boys and girls on Centre court after beating Milos Raonic in 2016. Colorsport/Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena Williams falls to the ground after winning match point on Centre Court in 2016. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Novak Djokovic with the trophy with Roger Federer on Centre Court, in 2015. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena Williams balances the Venus Rosewater Dish on her head with no hands as she walks off Centre Court. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Novak Djokovic shows off the trophy on Centre Court. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Petra Kvitova holds her winners Plate on Centre Court in 2014. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Andy Murray celebrates with the crowd after winning match point in 2013. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Marion Bartoli climbs up into the stand to family and coaches after beating Sabine Lisicki in 2013. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Andy Murray congratulates Roger Federer in 2012. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena Williams with the Ladies Plate in 2012. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Novak Djokovic defeats Rafael Nadal in the final of the mens singles on day thirteen at Wimbledon 2011. Ian MacNicol Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Petra Kvitova with her trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova in their final match of the womens singles on day twelve at Wimbledon 2011. Ian MacNicol Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych in the 2010 final. Kieran Galvin / Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena Williams after beating Vera Zvonareva. Kieran Galvin / Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Roger Federer kisses the trophy after beating Andy Roddick in 2009. COLORSPORT / Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena Williams shows off the dish to photographers in 2009. COLORSPORT / Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Venus Williams (USA) walks past the Photographers on Centre Court in 2007. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Rafael Nadal of Spain drops onto the grass to celebrate winning the title. Colorsport / Imago Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Roger Federer with the mens trophy after winning the title for the 5th time in a row. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Venus holds aloft the Ladies Shield after beating Marion Bartoli in 2007. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Roger Federer with the Trophy, glances over at Rafael Nadal. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Amelie Mauresmo celebrates match point. She beat Henin Hardenne in the 2006 final. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Roger Federer drops to the ground after winning match point in 2005. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Federer plays a shot in 2005. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena Williams with the Ladies Shield and sister Venus Willams, in 2005. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Maria Sharapova stunned Serena Williams in the 2004 final. Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Venus Williams hugs the winners plate in 2005. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Roger Federer holds aloft the Mens Singles Trophy after his straight sets victory over Mark Philippoussis in 2003. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Serena and Venus Williams smilling after the 2003 Womens Final, won by Serena. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Lleyton Hewitt celebrates victory in 2002. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Goran Ivanisevic celebrates beating Tim Henman in the mens semi-final in 2001. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Venus Williams with the Ladies trophy after defeating Justine Henin in 2001. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Venus Williams celebrates with the Ladies winners plate after defeating Lindsey Davenport in 2001. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Pete Sampras with The Mens singles trophy in 2000. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Pete Sampras kisses the Mens Wimbledon Trophy after beating Andre Agassi in 1999. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Ladies winner Lindsay Davenport with the trophy and and runner-up Steffi Graf. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Pete Sampras celebrates. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Jana Novotna celebrates victory in 1998. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships In 1997 Pete Sampras got the better of Cedric Pioline. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Martina Hingis holds aloft the Ladies Plate. Colorsport / Andrew Cowie Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Richard Krajicek drops to the ground after winning the final on Centre Court. He beat Mal Washington. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Steffi Graf shows Sanchez Vicario the Shield after the presentation on Centre Court. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Pete Sampras shortly after beating Boris Becker in 1995. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Steffi Graf celebrates after winning match point in 1995. Colorsport/ Stewart Fraser Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Pete Sampras reacts after beating Goran Ivanišević 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 6–0 in the 1994 final. COLORSPORT Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Conchita Martinez is the only Spanish player to have won the women's singles title at Wimbledon, where she beat Martina Navratilova to win the 1994 title. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Steffi Graff of Germany glances over to Jana Novotna as she breaks down in tears at the presentation after losing the match. Colorsport Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Sampras beat Jim Courier 7–6(7–3), 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–3 in the 1993 final. Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Andre Agassi receives the trophy from the Duchess of Kent in 1992. Wimbledon: The greatest pictures from The Championships Stefi Graf shows off the ladies Plate to the crowd. Colorsport/ Stewart Fraser

But Wimbledon isn't alone. In most tennis tournaments, men and women play the best of three sets, but in the Grand Slams of the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open, only the men are challenged to play best of five.

This is a situation branded as “unfair, outdated” and “indefensible” by Dr Paul Davis, chairman of the British Philosophy of Sport Association, and Lisa Edwards, senior sports lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University, in a journal essay they have published as the tournament turns 140 this year.

The pair argue that this disparity upholds the belief that women are weaker than men, as well as repressive ideals of what is feminine, i.e. pretty, slender and not too sweaty. In turn, this makes it easier to argue that formidable athletes like Serena Williams deserve to be paid less than their male counterparts. It’s also unfair to men, they say, who need to play longer and are at put at greater risk of injury.

“The asymmetrical, sex-based arrangements in Grand Slam tennis are degrading to female tennis players - and arguably all females - and oppressive to male tennis players - and arguably all males,” Dr Davis tells The Independent.

So, why exactly is this archaic-seeming rule still in place? Are women truly too physically and psychologically feeble to play the same number of sets as men? Are other factors like, as some suggest, the pesky weather and tricky scheduling putting off Grand Slam organisers from levelling the playing field, or in this case, the lawn?

When asked to explain the disparity and to comment on plans to ditch the status quo, a spokeswoman from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club which organises Wimbledon told The Independent it has “no plans to change the format of any draw at The Championships.” So far, so vague.

However, as far as Dr Laura Hills, senior sports lecturer at Brunel University, is concerned there is no scientific evidence to back the idea that women can't play five sets. It’s not even unprecedented. Between 1984 and 1998, that's what women did during the finals of the WTA championships, and 1894 between 1901 at the US Open.

“Sport has a long history of trying to imply that women are physically unable to do sports activities,” says Dr Hills. She points towards the fact that women’s marathons, boxing and downhill skiing were very slowly introduced to the Olympic Games.

“Women's exclusion from these has traditionally been rationalised by claiming women were lacking in sufficient strength or stamina and that women were at greater risk of injury. This perpetuates the ongoing belief in male superiority by claiming women are incapable," she says.

And top female players - who you might suppose are an authority on women’s tennis - including Maria Erakovic and Serena Williams have both said that they would be willing to play five sets. Or, in Williams’ case, “best of five, best of seven, whatever". Martina Navratilova and Maria Sharapova have meanwhile argued that men’s tournaments should be cut to three.

Perhaps, then, the explanation is that watching women playing sports is just a big yawn-fest. Why should Wimbledon risk raising the number of sets for women when no one will tune in?

But then how do you explain a recent survey of around 500 adults by the Attest polling firm which found that just under half of people watch as many matches as possible during Wimbledon, while 7.5 per cent watch just the men’s and 4.4 per cent just the women’s. Or that in 2015, the women’s US Open tournament sold out quicker than the men’s, and in 2013 and 2014 more people tuned in to watch women play? It seems it’s not the gender of the athletes that people are interested in, but rather the sporting prowess and delicious suspense.

That just leaves the argument that it would be a shame to mess up the tournament’s scheduling after 140 years.

"There are some logistical challenges to increasing women's event to five sets,” says Dr Hill. “Wimbledon already struggles to fit in all the matches - particularly if the weather is uncooperative.

"I suspect they would also be reticent to reduce from five in the men's on the grounds of tradition, the ability to compare records, invoking the memory of classic matches, and also maintaining gender difference, and the sense that men's singles is the most important event."

But for Dr Davis, it's a sacrifice that is worth making. “Tradition should certainly always be taken seriously; tradition is part of what it is to be human, and is arguably particularly precious in a cultural practice such as sport," he says. "However, traditions are apt for moral and ideological evaluation. Traditions which degrade or oppress groups of people should be rejected."