The discussion about possible changes in the rules for Wimbledon is moving: The introduction of a shot clock was already considered before the tournament began in 2018, now a tie-break for the deciding set no longer seems to be ruled out.
As soon as John Isner and Kevin Anderson fight each other for six hours and 36 minutes, not only the program on the men’s semi-final Friday is delayed, but also the start of the women’s final – and the discussion about the exciting question of whether Wimbledon should follow the example of the US Open gets moving. The London newspaper The Times reports.
In the fifth set, a tie-break determines the outcome of a match. The same mode of play is used at the French Open and in Australia as in Wimbledon, miraculously the organizers and fans of these two tournaments have been spared from extreme marathon matches in the recent past.
This may also have something to do with the ground: Even though the surfaces have come closer and closer over the last few years, the new properties of the balls have additionally slowed down the game: Impressive clubs like Isner and Anderson tend to lose their service games less often on Church Road than in other locations.
The fact that the record match Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal also lasted more than five hours immediately after the match speaks against this thesis. But it could also be due to the fact that there is simply a great deal of balance between these two exceptional athletes.
When a possible tie-break should decide on the outcome in Wimbledon is by the way not discussed: It would be possible at 6:6, but there are also proposals in the direction of 9:9, which is connected with the further question of whether a new regulation also affects the women’s decision rate.
Those responsible have almost twelve months to decide on this. Another innovation, which will be introduced sooner rather than later in the All England Club, will soon enter its first phase at professional level: the shot clock will stimulate the professionals to hurry over the US hard court summer. And celebrate its premiere at the US Open with a major.