Italy: The times are a changing in tennis — and for those in charge of the sport it is a case of the quicker the better.
Rule changes — such as towel racks, shorter sets and reduced warm-ups — and other innovations such as a 25-second shot clock will be further trialed at November’s Next Gen ATP Finals and could be introduced on the men’s tour as early as 2019.
It is the serving clock which could potentially worry tennis’ male procrastinators.
The 25-second clock was first used at last year’s season-ending tournament for the best 21-and-under players and will be introduced at a grand slam for the first time at this year’s US Open.
Time violation rules already exist in the sport, but the shot clock allows players and the crowd to see time ticking by.
The consequences of failing to serve within 25 seconds at the US Open has yet to be finalized, but the clock has already been used in this year’s Australian Open qualifying and will be in place during French Open qualifying, which takes place later this month.
This year’s US Open will also enforce a seven-minute warm-up period before each match — players will have one minute from the time they walk on court to meet at the net for the coin toss. Players breaching this rule could be fined $20,000.
Rafael Nadal, who famously takes his time between points, has voiced his opposition to the shot clock.
“If you want to play well, you have to let players breathe a little,” the world No. 2 has previously said.
“We’re not machines. If you want to have matches like I played with Novak (Djokovic), you cannot expect to play 50-shot rallies and in 25 seconds be ready to play the next point,” added Nadal, referring to the Serb who was famously on the other side of the net when they contested a six-hour Australian Open final in 2012.
“But if you don’t want a great show, of course it’s a great improvement.”
Novak Djokovic has, in the past, been criticized for time wasting.
