The ATP have announced a new rule to keep points played in a prompt manner, but it’s garnered a negative response from some fans.
During the pandemic, the ATP tour stopped ball kids from handling the player’s towels to avoid the spread of germs.
However, the introduction and backlash to the new automatic shot clock, which means a player must start the next point 25 seconds after the last ended, has caused the Tour to reverse their decision to try and speed things up.
This means that ball kids will now pass players’ towels to them after a point in the same way they did before the pandemic.
Fans call new rule ‘horrible’ for ball kids
The decision has not gone down well with fans, who believe that the current system is one of the better changes to come out of the pandemic restrictions and that it’s the shot clock that should change.
Most fans’ negative responses come from its unsanitary nature. One said: “Why not just add a couple of seconds to the shot clock instead of having children exposed to bodily fluids?”.
Another bluntly stated: “Why on earth should ball kids have to hand out sweaty towels? Not their job.”
However, some agree with the change to help speed up the game and make the shot-clock system more appealing for players and fans.
Mark Petchey, former British tennis player, said: “For the sake of using the shot clock correctly, this was one of the solutions.”
While another pointed out “It’s so annoying waiting 30 seconds every big point because someone wants to practice their gamesmanship getting the towel slow.”
Is the automatic shot-clock rule be here to stay?
The ATP first implemented the new shot-clock rule in 2019 and it’s received positivity and negativity in equal regard from players.
Carlos Alcaraz called the rule “something bad” during his press conference after his defeat to Jack Draper at Queen’s, while other players have said the regimented system means that players know exactly how long they have at all times.
Whatever players think about the automatic shot clock, it speeds up the play and makes the game faster and more entertaining for spectators.
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