By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday January 9, 2024
After a lot heated debate, the ATP and WTA Excursions have responded to gamers’ needs and applied guidelines to keep away from late-night finishes at tournaments.
With psychological and bodily well being on the fore, the excursions had created an untenable scenario through the years, permitting occasions to load up heart court docket schedules with greater than 5 matches which often ended up with matches beginning after midnight and typically ending as late as three or 4 AM.
This November in Paris, issues hit a boiling level when the event scheduled six matches per day on its Centre Courtroom, resulting in extraordinarily late finishes. Jannik Sinner famously pulled out of the event a day after finishing a match at 2:37 AM. He was scheduled to play 15 hours later, on the subsequent day.
Sinner’s withdrawal is considered one of many examples of pointless and excessive demand positioned on the gamers on account of event’s need to place as many marquee matches on the primary showcourts as attainable, to reinforce ticket revenues and TV viewership.
Pissed off, and fatigued, gamers constantly known as for change in 2023, and their voices have been heard.
“The variety of late match finishes (outlined as matches ending after midnight) has risen significantly in recent times, negatively impacting gamers and followers. That is tied to a rise in common match size on Tour,” the excursions mentioned in a joint assertion, launched Tuesday.
New guidelines from each excursions to curtail late begin instances and finishes 👍 pic.twitter.com/VEjbz4vVnS
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) January 9, 2024
Extra particulars of the modifications are listed under:
New guidelines associated to Match Scheduling shall be applied at WTA and ATP occasions and shall be in impact from January 2024 as follows:
Not more than 5 matches per day per court docket (with an 11AM begin), with three matches in the course of the day session and two matches in the course of the night session.
No matches to go on court docket after 11PM, except permitted by the WTA/ATP Supervisor in session with WTA/ATP administration.
Matches not on court docket by 10:30PM to be moved to another court docket – by no later than 11PM.
Evening classes to start no later than 7:30PM, with a advice for six:30PM.
Strategic Evaluate of Tennis Balls
The excursions additionally addressed one other scorching button problem: the degradation in consistency and playability of tennis balls.
Gamers’ voices have as soon as once more been heard as many spoke out in regards to the stark distinction in balls throughout completely different occasions, and the way they open the door unnecessarily to repetitive accidents.
“Traditionally, every particular person event has had the power to find out its personal ball provider or sponsor, resulting in potential inconsistencies of balls used week-on-week,” the assertion from the WTA and ATP learn.
And… a strategic evaluate of tennis balls utilized in tour is underway… 👍 pic.twitter.com/crdPY0jqBo
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) January 9, 2024
“The intention is to now transfer in the direction of a extra constant and centralized method by WTA and ATP. The aim is to ship better ball consistency inside event swings for gamers, and tighter certification and specification necessities for an enhanced end-product, whereas not adversely affecting income streams for tournaments.” Each tour CEO’s made temporary statements within the circulated e mail.
Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO, mentioned: “We really feel it is necessary that these initiatives are totally aligned between the 2 Excursions and can permit for athletes to carry out at their highest ranges, offering for an improved athlete and fan expertise. The athlete’s direct suggestions in cooperation with our occasion members has been terrific in permitting us to proceed modernizing our sport.”
Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, mentioned: “Match scheduling and tennis balls are each precedence subjects on our agenda, along with the WTA. It’s crucial that we evolve and adapt to the calls for of the trendy sport, significantly the place participant well being and fan expertise are involved. We’re optimistic in regards to the affect we are able to make on each these fronts, now and in the long term.”
