Tennis Planning Revolution to Speed up the Game

The Daily Telegraph Wednesday 5 April 2017 *** 13 Sport Tennis Tennis planning revolution to speed up the game EXCLUSIVE sudden-death deuce point, where The possible reforms are an at- pretty tough. It makes a lot of only just starting out, such as the the receiver chooses which side the tempt to shorten the length of sense.” International Premier Tennis server serves from, a rule already matches and make the sport as at- Were the trialled changes suc- League and ‘Fast4’ first-to-four- Proposals for shorter enforced at doubles events outside tractive as possible to supporters cessful in Milan, consideration game sets used at the Hopman Cup sets and faster matches the grand slams. This would mean a and television companies, without would be given to rolling them out exhibition event in January. maximum of only one deuce per losing the essence of the sport. at ATP tournaments in the next Tie Break Tens – a first-to-10- game and an end to ‘advantage’ There is even an acceptance couple of years – though any plans points tie-break – hopes to become ATP wants to attract points for either player. among those involved that many to do so are in their infancy. more of a regular fixture on the cal- fans and TV companies Mooted format reforms include events are too long for fans. Brit- The need for tennis to evolve and endar, with events in 2015 and 2016, changing matches from best of ain’s Davis Cup captain, Leon stay relevant has been brought into and one scheduled for Madrid in three sets of first-to-six games to Smith, for instance, favours reduc- sharp relief by the England and May including Stan Wawrinka and By Charlie Eccleshare best of five sets of first-to-four ing Davis Cup singles rubbers from Wales Cricket Board’s plans to re- Garbine Muguruza. games. The logic is that doing so best of five to best of three sets, a vise the already revolutionary The ultimate aim of Tie Break Sets of first to four games, sudden- would dramatically increase the reform to be voted on at the ATP an- Twenty20 format and the proposed Tens is to have a stream of competi- death deuce points and no service proportion of key games in a match, nual meeting in the summer. changes to golf that would bring tions to be run alongside the ATP lets could all be trialled this year as and reduce the lull period that can “That would be better for the about the sport’s biggest set of rule Tour, with one-day tournaments part of a series of reforms to revolu- take place at the start of sets. supporters,” he said. “For kids to changes in 100 years. held on the eve of the main events tionise tennis. To further reduce ‘dead time’, come and watch two best-of-five- Attempts are already in place to at the same or nearby venues. The Association of Tennis Pro- discussion is being given to having set singles on a Friday or Sunday launch a tennis equivalent of British No 2 Dan Evans told The fessionals board will vote in the a clock visible to supporters and the can be too much. Even diehard Twenty20. As of yet, they have ei- Daily Telegraph that he welcomed a coming days on the proposed umpire during the warm-up to en- tennis fans find nine or 10 hours ther proved unsuccessful or are discussion around tennis’s future. changes, which are set to be road- sure the players do not exceed the tested at November’s inaugural allocated 10 minutes. Next Gen Finals in Milan. The clock may also then remain New balls Reforms that could be trialled The ATP confirmed last year that in sight during the match to pre- the tournament, which is contested vent players from taking more than No lets on serves Sudden-death deuce points by the world’s top eight singles the allocated 25 seconds (or 20 sec- If a serve hits the net and lands When a game gets to deuce, there players aged 21 and under, would onds at grand slams) between in, the point would continue would be one final point to be used as a testing ground for new points. Rafael Nadal is one of the – instead of a let being called decide the game. There would be rules, and it can now be revealed players who has consistently taken and the point replayed. no ‘advantage’ point for either what is up for discussion as the longer than permitted, a habit player. sport looks to follow Twenty20 Roger Federer described as “not Four-game sets cricket by introducing a shorter cool” three years ago. There is the Rather than playing best of Clock form of the game. school of thought, though, that says three sets to six games, matches There would be a visible clock to In-game alterations being de- discretion should be applied to the would become best of five sets prevent the players going over bated include no service lets being rule, especially in particularly gru- Break time: Rafael Nadal regularly to four games. the allotted time during the played and the introduction of a elling conditions. takes too long between games warm-up and between points. .

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