Andy Roddick is always looking for ways that he can progress tennis, and is not afraid to step on any toes to find it.
Whether that be player welfare or revolutionising the format of the sport, he has spoken to so many people on his podcast all with their own widely-varying views.
However, on his latest offering, he actually looks back on a previous conversation with Stacey Allaster, a director of the US Open, lauding her proposal to change the sport completely.
Andy Roddick proposes the ‘best’ change for tennis
Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the trouble with doubles once again was a topic of conversation.
After all, the format continues to fail to live up to its potential, despite it being a far quicker and exciting variant of the sport.
It is simply lacking the big names of the singles draw, which is leaving it lagging behind.
Fortunately, Andy Roddick has a solution, and it is one that he thinks can revolutionise the sport. He claimed: ‘I don’t think it’s marketing or scoring. I think we are finding a way to put a bandaid on something that needs surgery.
‘I think Stacey Allaster had the best idea yet, let the space create itself from the singles draw.
‘So if you are not competing in the first round or second round of singles, if the doubles starts the last 10 days in a major, where all of a sudden you are carving out really interesting match-ups. You are going to get more singles players who had disappointing results in singles who want to get into the doubles.
‘But taking something which people have chosen largely not to watch – and this isn’t my opinion but based on ratings – it’s been around 40 years, the market speaks to you over that time and it’s not like people haven’t had the chance to do it.
‘I promise you there aren’t a lot of TV networks which leave something that is extremely wanted and viable and refuse to use it for revenue.’
You can read Stacey Allaster’s proposed US Open changes to the doubles format here.
The ATP and WTA singles stars could save doubles
If Roddick and Allaster’s proposal was to go through, the singles stars might well save the doubles format.
After all, there is tangible proof to back up the notion that these view-driving powerhouses like Carlos Alcaraz and co make all the difference.
Take Alcaraz’s partnership with Rafael Nadal at the Olympics.
Naturally, it was always bound to draw intrigue, but few expected it to dominate the tennis media as it did. It quite comfortably overshadowed any of the singles draws, with Andy Murray another whose presence commanded attention.
It seems like the true stars are forged in the singles game. But, should they move over to the doubles and get more eyes on that format, eventually it might be the doubles players who can become well-known players too.
It’s all good for the sport.
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