Tennis Q & A

[Corbon]

I remember something with Djokic being too young to receive price money for her run in the Australian Open many years ago. Not to sure about the details anymore. Anyone remembers that and is it still something younger players face nowadays?

It might have been because she was an Australian citizen and earning money there when she was only 15. Each country has different regulations of minors having a steady income but whenever there was some controversy surrounding Dokic, it usually involved her crazy father.

[Corbon]

Controversial situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=555MZkZoqLU

Note: Subsequently, hawk-eye showed that Isner's serve was indeed out so the overrule was incorrect. Should Nalbandian have been allowed to challenge despite being confused in the beginning and maybe waiting too long? There's no set time for challenges to be made,other that they must be done "immediately".

PS: Huge point obviously but this shouldn't be factored in.

[ICEMAN_9588]

Technically the player couldn't ask for challenge after the chair umpire said the score, but World Tour is full of examples that shows the contrary situation.
It is a sort of "non-written" rule, the possibility to activate hawkeye after the score refers to umpires' discretion.

In that particular case, Nalbandian was totally right in my opinion. The umpire was too much zealous, if I can say that. And Nalba uses to be a nervous player on court (who said Queen's?), but he had all the rights to challenge that ball.

I repeat, it's a variable situation, it depends by the umpire himself (or herself).

[Corbon]

Is there any side that lists older Mixed Doubles results? Neither the official ATP, WTA and Grand Slam sites bother with it (AO is en exception but it's incomplete as well) and Wikipedia is not up to date or only shows results from finals.

[Corbon]

About minimum age

2. Event Participation
a. WTA, ITF Women’s Circuit and Fed Cup Event Participation
i. Players Under 14 Years of Age
A player who has not yet reached the date of her 14th birthday
may not participate in any Professional Tennis Tournament
on the WTA or ITF Women’s Circuit, or in any level of Fed Cup
competition.

Guess the same or a similar rule applies for ATP and Davis Cup matches (younger players attend Future tournaments).

[Moralspain]

Haven't checked all the posts so no idea if this has been discussed here, anyway i heard today morning that the ATP is thinking about not making replay serves when ball touches the net, the play continues same way when this net thing happens during a rally, what do you think guys?

[SlicerITST]

I heard about it yes. To me it makes sense. The pace will pick up a bit without all those replay serves. And i do not feel it has such a big impact about 80% of the time. Could be wrong about that though. Not really an avid tennis player myself.

[emate007]

No lets?? This would be fantastic, I play the same way with a couple friends who are similarly open minded.
Can somebody link to an article? I just had a discussion where I said this would never happen, despite liking the idea for years.

[Moralspain]

No lets?? This would be fantastic, I play the same way with a couple friends who are similarly open minded.
Can somebody link to an article? I just had a discussion where I said this would never happen, despite liking the idea for years.

they're just testing if this would work with pros

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20120913/atp-rule-changes/

[ICEMAN_9588]

I don't think it's a good idea. Television hosts and ATP Board Directors really think that "lets" are the cause of wasting time in tennis?

And anyway, this is not an "effective time" sport. And it is not a sport with defined match times. It's not like a soccer game that lasts 90 mins (plus recovery time), and it's not like a basket match, or a water polo match.

It' more similar to a volleyball game: it can last 3 or 4 or even 5 sets, 2-3-4 or even 5 hours. And this is a thing you cannot know for sure before the match really happens on court.
Think about Australian Open final: Would that match last less without any "let"?

Or better: how much less would it be without "lets"?

Sorry for my english, I hope I've been able to explain myself.

[Corbon]

Seriously, how many service lets do happen in a match? The time saved would be negligible.

In any case they should actually enforce the 25 sec rule for both the server and returner.

[Rob ITST]

Seriously, how many service lets do happen in a match? The time saved would be negligible.

That's my thought on it. Why make a rule that probably won't really help much.

In any case they should actually enforce the 25 sec rule for both the server and returner.

I heard that the ATP will be enforcing the 25 second rule more strictly next season. I think the penalty will be a loss of first serve on the first offense (no warning?). But that is just something I heard, I haven't seen anything official about it.

[emate007]

You guys all seem to be combining the two proposals into one deal. Neither the ATP statement or myself said lets were a problem as far as time. The time rule is subjective, and there will always be problems enforcing that rule. Only some sort of serve clock buzzer that's super visible like the NBA will fix the problem.

I like the no let rule for 2 other reasons:

1. Keeps the rules (a little more) consistent.
If you hit a shot that bounces twice on the other side... who cares if the ball hit the net or not.
Why is it only ok to hit a let winner AFTER the serve? There is no reason except "that's the way it's always been."
If play was halted every time the ball touched the net it would be weird and stupid. And it's still kind of that way now.

2. I play with the same rules myself sometimes, and it keeps you on your toes. I'd enjoy seeing the top players dealing with a new situation, I guarantee most of the half lets would be super entertaining.

[SlicerITST]

Yeah, it wouldnt be about the overal time. But geared to keeping the viewers interested in the game. That is, the large part of the viewers that just watch the occasional tennis match and after 3 lets in one game think: Can this game BEEEE anymore boring..... Thats what i meant with the pace picking up. Just a little less avoidable time breaks in the game.

I also think they should kill the rest periods during the sets. Just switch sides and thats it.

[emate007]

I also think they should kill the rest periods during the sets. Just switch sides and thats it.

That's not really much longer than between games. And I agree wholeheartedly.