Shorter sets, shot clock to be tested

The ATP will test radical rule changes including shorter sets at the inaugural endof-season tennis finals for up-and-coming players in Milan, the sport’s ruling body announced on Tuesday.

The tournament, featuring the world’s best players aged 21 and under, will introduce first-to-four-game sets, with tie-breaks played at 3-3.

The best-of-five-set matches “do not alter the number of games required to win a match (12) from the traditional (best-of-threeset) scoring format,” the ATP said.

Shorter warm-ups, a shot clock to curb time-wasting, a no-let rule for serves and a limit of one medical timeout per player per match are other changes planned for Milan.

Players will be allowed to communicate with their coaches at certain times, and spectators will be granted “free movement” during matches, except behind the baselines, generating “a relaxed fan-friendly atmosphere”.

The ATP said the aim of the changes was designed “to create a high-tempo, cutting-edge and TV-friendly product. They are geared towards attracting new and younger fans into the sport, while at the same time retaining the sport’s traditional fan base.”

ATP president Chris Kermode added: “We’re excited to be bringing something new to the table with this event. It is not only about the next generation of players, but also about the next generation of fans.”

Kermode stressed that the ATP remains “acutely aware of the traditions in our sport”.

“We will be sure to safeguard the integrity of our product when assessing if any changes should eventually be carried forward onto regular ATP World Tour events in the future,” he added.

The tournament, with $1.275 million in prize money, runs Nov 7-11.