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 over time, permitting occasions to load up heart courtroom schedules with greater than 5 matches which regularly 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 Court docket, 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 certainly one of many examples of pointless and excessive demand positioned on the gamers resulting from event’s want to place as many marquee matches on the principle showcourts as potential, to boost 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 lately, negatively impacting gamers and followers. That is tied to a rise in common match size on Tour,” the excursions stated 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 adjustments are listed beneath:
New guidelines associated to Match Scheduling can be applied at WTA and ATP occasions and can be in impact from January 2024 as follows:
- Not more than 5 matches per day per courtroom (with an 11AM begin), with three matches throughout the day session and two matches throughout the night session.
- No matches to go on courtroom after 11PM, until authorized by the WTA/ATP Supervisor in session with WTA/ATP administration.
- Matches not on courtroom by 10:30PM to be moved to another courtroom – by no later than 11PM.
- Night time classes to start no later than 7:30PM, with a advice for six:30PM.
Strategic Assessment of Tennis Balls
The excursions additionally addressed one other scorching button subject: the degradation in consistency and playability of tennis balls.
Gamers’ voices have as soon as once more been heard as many spoke out concerning 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 flexibility 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 assessment 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 direction of a extra constant and centralized method by WTA and ATP. The purpose is to ship larger 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 transient statements within the circulated e mail.
Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO, stated: “We really feel it will be significant 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, stated: “Match scheduling and tennis balls are each precedence matters on our agenda, along with the WTA. It’s crucial that we evolve and adapt to the calls for of the fashionable sport, significantly the place participant well being and fan expertise are involved. We’re optimistic concerning the impression we are able to make on each these fronts, now and in the long run.”
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