After changing the seed lists in Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP pros will have a number of other new features. Among other things, a shot clock will be introduced at the upcoming Australian Open, which will require players to have 25 seconds to prepare for the next point.
In a meeting last week in London between those responsible for the four Grand Slams (Grand Slam Board, GSB), it was decided that the shot clock would be introduced at the beginning of next year.
Up to now, there has also been a time rule, but it was always up to the referee to punish delays. In the Grand Slams, which will be held by the ITF, only 20 seconds between two points were officially allowed despite the longer distance. With the introduction of the service watch, the time was adjusted to the usual 25 seconds of the other ATP tournaments.
The countdown between points has already been successfully tested at the ATP-Next-Gen finals as well as at the US Open, for example in the junior competition “I like the shot clock”, said the winner of the unofficial U21 World Championship, Hyeon Chung, but remarked:”Sometimes I get a warning from the referee because I have to clean my glasses. This means that I have to expect a constant warning for longer matches.
The first time the shot clock expires, the respective player will be warned. If the same player needs more than 25 seconds later, he loses his first serve. In case of repeated time overruns, points are awarded to the opponent.
In order to make matches more predictable for TV stations, the GSB has also decided to sanction players for warming up too long. Professionals could face fines of up to $20,000 if they are not ready to start the match exactly seven minutes after entering the field.
There are also some innovations concerning injuries and the resulting retreats of matches. If a player cancels after 12 noon on Thursday before the start of a Grand Slam for his opening match injured, he will now receive half the prize money of a first-round defeat. The other half goes to the lucky loser who’s filling in for the injured.
In this way, the GSB wants to prevent injured players from competing in the first round only in order to “pick up”the prize money. In addition, penalties for insufficient betting during a match will be increased. Should a player perform “under his or her professional standard” as announced by the GSB, he or she could be fined a first round prize money.
The best-of-five format at Grand Slams was not the topic of the meetings. ATP boss Chris Kermode said so at the finals in London, and does not believe that the matches at the four biggest tournaments of the year will be shortened in the near future.