The upcoming US Open series will introduce a series of new initiatives aimed at speeding up matches following an agreement between three governing bodies.
A consultation process between the USTA, ATP and WTA have given the green light to a series of new rules to be implemented. Players in violation of these new regulations will be subjected to penalties from the umpire. They will be implemented at tournaments taking place in North America over the summer, including the US Open.
A Warm-up clock will be used to monitor how long players take prior to the match. As soon as players walk onto the court, they have 60 seconds before they must be at the net. Should they take longer than the allotted time, they could fact a post-match fine. Although it will not be classed as a time violation. Following the coin toss, another five-minute timer will be used to countdown the warm up. Players must be ready to play by the time the clock reaches zero or face a fine.
During matches, a shot clock will be used for players to monitor how long they take between points. They are allowed a maximum of 25 seconds under current rules. The countdown will be enforced in two different ways depending on what stage the match is at :-
During a game – Following the point, the score will be entered, the Chair Umpire will announce the score, and then start the 25 second-clock. If the player has not started the service motion at the completion of the 25-second countdown, the Chair Umpire will issue a time violation.
After even-numbered games – The Chair Umpire will start the clock when the balls are all in place on the server’s end of the court. If the player has not started the service motion at the completion of the 25-second countdown, the Chair Umpire will issue a time violation.
The clocks will be visible for players to see, but tournament organisers are yet to determine where they will place them on the courts.
Nadal’s opposition
The new plans aren’t without its critics with one of the most vocal being 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has previously received numerous time violations the time he takes between points. Although, he insists that the clocks could damage the quality of rallies played on the tour.
“In terms of the sport, depends. If you want to see a quick game without thinking, well done.” He said following his first round win at Wimbledon.
“If you want to keep playing in a sport that you need to think, you need to play with more tactics, you want to have long and good rallies, then of course you are going the wrong way.
“But seems like sometimes is only about the business, so… I can’t support this, no. Because I don’t feel the matches that stay for the history of our sport went that quick.”
Novak Djokovic is less critical of the idea, but remain cautious. Asked about the possible use of the clocks at Wimbledon, the former world No.1 admitted that he was unsure about it.
“I know that they’ve tried it out last year in [US Open qualifiers],” Djokovic said. “It was not too many negative comments about it, but it’s quite different if you introduce that to the show courts and main draw, playing best-of-five.”
It is possible that the proposals to speed up matches could be applied to the entire ATP World Tour as early as next year.
List of tournaments that will implement the new rules
- Citi Open (Washington, D.C.)
- Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic (San Jose, Calif.)
- Rogers Cup (Montreal and Toronto, Canada)
- Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Connecticut Open (New Haven, Conn.)
- Winston-Salem Open (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
- The US Open
