Tennis is an ever-changing sport, and whilst the core principles remain the same, the organisers are always keen to make changes if they think it will provide benefits to watchability and the players.
With tiebreaks having been capped and coaching breaks welcomed in recent years, it feels like there is always some sort of upheaval just around the corner.
And this whilst latest alteration remains just a trial for now, this week might prove imperative in sparking the permanent switch.
Should it succeed, there is every chance we could see yet another major change to the sport that would speed up every match and encourage faster play.
The new rule that the ATP are testing this week
With Queen’s and Halle now underway, two prestigious grass-court tournaments, it is intriguing that the ATP are using this week to trial a new set of rules regarding the shot clock.
The latest on this matter was offered by journalist Jose Morgado, who wrote on X: ‘ATP is testing a new rule this week in Halle and Queen’s with the shot clock starting right when the previous point finishes and not after the umpire calls the score.
‘Quicker between points and reduces ‘subjectivity’ as there are umpires much more strict than others…’.
The time has not actually changed, as it remains 25 seconds, it is just the official enforcement of when that timer begins that will be altered this week.
Stefanos Tsitsipas outlined the one rule he’d change in tennis just last month, which also related to serving.
Tennis removing the tactics from the sport
In making this change, it feels like tennis is doing what many other sports are trying at the moment and leaning into a younger audience.
Seeking to speed up the time between points will help capture the shortened attention span of that generation, but in doing so will also remove some of the tactics from the sport.
The time spent between points, and standing there bouncing the ball on the baseline, can be frustrating to watch at times.
However, for older or less dynamic players, it can often be a great equaliser to afford themselves more time to rest.
Not only that, but the tactical uses are interesting too, as it can disrupt momentum and put an opponent off if used well.
Novak Djokovic has been guilty of this at times, and Rafael Nadal, across his illustrious career, has very often gone unpunished despite flouting the timings.
His pre-serve ritual goes on for an age, and even as recently as January was he handed a time code violation for overrunning during his bathroom break in Brisbane.
Players like the Spaniard, who really seek to squeeze all they can out of this free time, will hate the implementation of this latest rule.
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