The Evolution Of The Game

[ashkor87]

Sinner's ability to face down the young bucks like Atmane is as impressive as his ability to beat the top players..

[ashkor87]

am looking forward to Paolini-Kudermetova.. my theory says Paolini should win, the court is fast and places a premium on speed and defense, but then Kudermetova's serve is awesome, next only to Rybakina's.. I wonder, not for the first time, what K is doing right this time that she didnt earlier..

[ti-amie]

This does happen in early rounds but would you want this in the QF's and Semi's of a Major or 1000?

good point, but I think a walkover in the finals would be really bad for the game...

[ashkor87]

am looking forward to Paolini-Kudermetova.. my theory says Paolini should win, the court is fast and places a premium on speed and defense, but then Kudermetova's serve is awesome, next only to Rybakina's.. I wonder, not for the first time, what K is doing right this time that she didnt earlier..

Sorry, wrong thread

[ponchi101]

This does happen in early rounds but would you want this in the QF's and Semi's of a Major or 1000?

good point, but I think a walkover in the finals would be really bad for the game...

What do you mean by this? If the player is injured and it is going to give a WO, he gets substituted?
How would you even implement this? How do you choose the substitute?

[FredX]

1. Elimination of second serve

What makes you think so? I know there are complaints about the slow pace of matches, I haven't heard any serious push for this, and it seems like it would downgrade the effectiveness of some players in preference for others, so I would think there would be some serious pushback.

[ponchi101]

Eliminating the 2nd serve would be insane. Most ATP players win barely more than 50% of their second serves. On the WTA, you can see match after match where the players won less than 50% of their second serves. The number of breaks of serve would be too much.

[FredX]

Eliminating the 2nd serve would be insane. Most ATP players win barely more than 50% of their second serves. On the WTA, you can see match after match where the players won less than 50% of their second serves. The number of breaks of serve would be too much.

Right, and without the free points, it might make the matches last longer rather than speeding things up. Get rid of lets, keep second serves.

[FredX]

4. Men play best of 3 till QFs, so fewer tedious early round marathons

6. Higher net except for under 12

I personally would hate instituting best-of-three to the quarterfinals. I know I'm spoiled by living close to a major, but if that were implemented, I would never be able to afford to see a five-set match live ever again.

The net was lowered back in 1880, so that would be a step backwards! Eliminate 2nd serve, higher nets...seems you want to negate the advantage of players who rely on their serve.

[ti-amie]

4. Men play best of 3 till QFs, so fewer tedious early round marathons

6. Higher net except for under 12

I personally would hate instituting best-of-three to the quarterfinals. I know I'm spoiled by living close to a major, but if that were implemented, I would never be able to afford to see a five-set match live ever again.

The net was lowered back in 1880, so that would be a step backwards! Eliminate 2nd serve, higher nets...seems you want to negate the advantage of players who rely on their serve.

Agree. Ticket prices for this years US Open are astronomical.

[ponchi101]

Remember one issue about tennis. It is played by millions around the world. So, if you raise the net for the pros, you raise the net for millions of us.
I already have enough problems getting my shots over this net. Add as little as 2 inches to it, and my frustration would quadruple.

[ponchi101]

4. Men play best of 3 till QFs, so fewer tedious early round marathons

6. Higher net except for under 12

I personally would hate instituting best-of-three to the quarterfinals. I know I'm spoiled by living close to a major, but if that were implemented, I would never be able to afford to see a five-set match live ever again.

The net was lowered back in 1880, so that would be a step backwards! Eliminate 2nd serve, higher nets...seems you want to negate the advantage of players who rely on their serve.

Didn't know this bit. Thanks.

[ashkor87]

There are two perspectives to keep in mind- the fans and the players... from the players' point of view, not having to play in the heat is a no-brainer. Having to play 5 sets in the early rounds is also too tiring and causes injuries..
From the fans' POV, watching 5 set matches between two mediocre players, or between 2 unmatched players, is tedious. I never watch early round matches nowadays.
From the fans POV again, watching someone unleash thunderbolts - Kyrgios, Sampras, Perricard, etc is not fun, after a while, though the first couple of big aces could elicit 'oohs and aahs'.The game has tried to deal with it by making the courts slower - problem with that is it affects all parts of the game, not just the serve. I think fast courts reward people who can hit winners, which is good, so slowing them down is not a good idea. Taking away the second serve is the simplest solution, doesnt affect anything else. Again, I repeat, why should anyone get two chances just to get the ball in play? seems absurd.
The idea of substituting an injured player is entirely from the fans' pov, ofcourse. as to how, there are many ways that have been tried and work well - sets won, games won, whatever, one of the losing semifinalists can get promoted.One can even say the semifinalist who lost to the other finalist is NOT eligible - he has already had his shot. for example if Swiatek had been injured and unable to play the W finals, make it Anisimova versus Bencic. Atleast the fans will get a match.

Players are increaingly taller nowadays - Sinner would have been considered a monster about 20 years ago.. Laver was only 5' 9". Hence my suggestion that the net can be raised. I agree, it is too drastic, and affects all players, including me, and I am not where near 6 foot tall.

[FredX]

4. Men play best of 3 till QFs, so fewer tedious early round marathons

6. Higher net except for under 12

I personally would hate instituting best-of-three to the quarterfinals. I know I'm spoiled by living close to a major, but if that were implemented, I would never be able to afford to see a five-set match live ever again.

The net was lowered back in 1880, so that would be a step backwards! Eliminate 2nd serve, higher nets...seems you want to negate the advantage of players who rely on their serve.

Didn't know this bit. Thanks.

It was originally 4 feet, 9 inches at the posts - that would certainly change things!

[FredX]

There are plenty of great five-set matches in the early rounds - both among evenly matched players stepping it up, as well as dramatic upsets or near upsets among players who aren't evenly matched on paper, and there are also plenty of boring, listless, or one-sided finals. And I don't buy the injury argument either - the average player in the top 100 plays what...6 five-set matches a year if they're lucky? Of course, the best players go deeper, but it's still a small percentage of their workload.

I think it's the most likely of those proposals to be implemented, however, because of scheduling at the slams. These 2 AM finishes have to go, and that's one way to do it.

Still, I don't see it happening. With the Masters-level tournaments expanding to two weeks and trying to muscle in on the slams, the five sets are part of what still sets them apart. I don't think they'll ditch it willingly, particularly since the ATP players don't seem to want it.

Taking away the second serve will transform all aspects of the game. Breaks of serve won't matter anywhere near as much, so it will take away those dramatic momentum shifts, because it will be about grinding away the most number of games rather than winning those important break point moments. It will eliminate aa whole category of players who rely on big serves, so playing styles will be more homogeneous - and forget about serve and volley points, we'll never see one of those ever again. It will be long rally after long rally, every point played the same.