The ATP came up with ten rule changes at the first edition of its Next Gen Finals in Milan. Our local reporter has let the impressions have an impact – the result is mostly positive.
From Florian Heer from Milan
Shorter Warm-upThe match starts exactly 5 minutes after the second player has entered the court.
Absolutely! This rule may not even go far enough. In the past, this has already been thought of as revolutionary. There are voices that want to completely eliminate warming up on the court. Especially in the early stages of the tournaments with x-match settings it would relieve the tight schedule. The spectators could also concentrate more on the scored course, without any previous skirmishes.
Hawk-Eye-LiveNo line judges. All calls through Hawk-Eye.
It is hard to imagine that this rule will have to be implemented over the next five years on all external courses of the sometimes extensive Grand Slam facilities. However, it is always trend-setting. The technique works. Wrong decisions are eliminated. A possible comparison with the video evidence in football is not far off, as it still leaves a certain amount of room for interpretation. And who can remember the referee in tennis?
Player CoachingPlayers have the opportunity to talk to their coach via headset at the end of each sentence.
What is already a reality on the WTA tour has been discussed among men for some time now. The ATP has implemented coaching in Milan in such a way that, unlike the ladies, the coach can only contact his protégé verbally. This leads to interesting, and in some cases highly entertaining, insights for viewers at the end devices. In the stadium, this effect fades naturally. Nevertheless, this instrument could be used quite easily and perhaps soon on the regular tournaments as well. The restriction that the conversation should only take place in English is, however, unfair to non-native speakers. Each team should be allowed to communicate in the language in which it does business outside of the match.
No-Let RuleThe game is not interrupted after a net surcharge.
Not really a real innovation. As early as 2013, ATP introduced this rule on the ATP-Challenger-Tour. For example, the Heilbronn Open was held under this rule that year. After three months of testing, however, the experiment disappeared from the scene again. Wrongly so. Ball exchanges are also not interrupted when the net is touched. The luck factor would only be widened a little, but the tension would increase with the impact.
Medical Time OutsPauses due to injury are limited to one per match.
So far, two interruptions per match and player are allowed. But what serious injuries can be treated in just three minutes? In addition, Medical Time Out is increasingly becoming a tactical tool to break the opponent’s game rhythm. In table tennis, for example, it has been possible for a few years now to set a one-minute “time-out” per match, without giving reasons and at any time. Maybe an alternative?
Shot ClockPlayers are given the strict time limit to bring the ball back into play in 25 seconds after each rally, displayed as a countdown on a screen.
Who would have thought at the beginning of the week that this rule change would turn out to be a favorite of the players? All eight participants in Milan expressed their positive views on this novelty through the bank. On several occasions, purely pragmatic things have been cited as reasons. You can simply count down the time and this will allow the players to open the new point in time. However, it is doubtful whether Rafael Nadal will like this rule. The spectators can only be satisfied if the game is accelerated. As a supplement to this, the now inflationary use of sweat-drying with a towel or even towels between the dots could be prohibited.
Singles-Only CourtDouble lines are eliminated.
For business events that are only held individually, this is actually logical. Reminds me a little of the Grand Slam Cup in the 1990s.
Free Movement PolicyFans are allowed to take or leave the place at any time. Exceptions are the areas behind the players at the baseline, as they are in the players’ direct field of vision.
What tennis tournament visitor doesn’t know that after a short pause, if you want to take your seat again after a short break, but the gladiators on the court are making their debut in an endless loop? The credo applies here: As long as the human movements take place outside the players’ immediate field of vision, go ahead!
Shorter SetsBest-of-5 up to 4 (Tiebreak at 3-3)
The most controversial rule, which is used to shorten the match duration. However, it also confuses the tennis rules as such. A take-over of this innovation would probably be the biggest revolution in tennis since the introduction of the tiebreak in 1970. The players are also sceptical about the shorter sentences. What might be a blessing for television, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be better. The dramaturgy of the game doesn’t improve this rule in any case.
No-Ad-ScoringNo game about cost and advantage. The server may choose the side.
Even with this rule, there is no lack of criticism on the part of those involved. What was already introduced for the double – with the difference “Receiver’s choice” – is now also valid for the single in Milan. The fact that the match progress is accelerated thereby may be undisputed. However, here too, his drama is being withdrawn from a narrow sentence. Epic marathon matches à la Nadal versus Djokovic at the Australian Open 2012 would be unthinkable.