Wimbledon to introduce final set tie- breaker from next year
■ Chelsea host Man U; Liverpool, Manchester City seek wins
London, Oct. 19: Wimbledon will introduce tiebreaks in the final set of all events for the first time next year, but only once the score in the deciding set reaches 1212, the All England Lawn Tennis Club ( AELTC) announced on Friday.
“Our view was that the time had come to introduce a tie- break method for matches that had not reached their natural conclusion at a reasonable point during the deciding set,” said the club’s chairman Philip Brook. A tie- break is normally played to decide the set when the score reaches 6- 6. However, until now the US Open has been the only Grand Slam that uses a tiebreak in the fifth set.
In this year’s Wimbledon men’s final, South African Kevin Anderson lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets less than two days after beating John Isner 26- 24 in the fifth set after more than six- and- a- half hours on court.
The AELTC said it had studied data from the past 20 years at Wimbledon and consulted players and officials before reaching decision.
The move comes after this year’s recordbreaking semifinal between Kevin Anderson and John Isner required 6 hours, 35 minutes to complete, with the final set finishing 26- 24. It was the second- longest match ever at Wimbledon, only beaten by the longest match in tennis history, which also involved Isner — his epic 6- 4, 3- 6, 6- 7 ( 7), 7- 6 ( 3), 70- 68 win against Nicolas Mahut in 2010.
London, Oct. 19: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho remains the centre of attention when the former Chelsea boss returns to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
A dramatic fightback from 0- 2 down to beat Newcastle 3- 2 before a twoweek international break offered Mourinho a stay of execution, but the pressure is still on the Portuguese to close a seven- point gap on Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table.
Mourinho has been quick to remind Chelsea fans on his previous returns to Stamford Bridge he delivered three Premier League titles in two spells in charge. However, he has lost without even scoring a goal in three visits as United manager.
Another defeat wouldn’t just realistically end United’s chances of winning the title in midOctober, but leave a mountain to climb just to make it back into the top four.
With Juventus to come twice in quick succession in the Champions League and a visit to City also to come before the next international break in three weeks’ time, Mourinho needs a good start to a difficult spell to avoid more speculation over his future. Tottenham face test Spurs start a demanding seven- game stretch in 21 days against a West Ham side on Saturday that have already proven to be at their best on the big occasion this season.
Of the Hammers seven Premier League points from eight games, four came from home games against Chelsea and United.
Spurs have equalled their best ever start to a Premier League season despite a series of injuries. Arsenal under radar Amid the three- way battle at the top and the circus surrounding Mourinho, Arsenal’s resurgence under Unai Emery has gone under the radar.
The Gunners have won nine games in a row in all competitions, six of them in the Premier League, to close to within two points of the leaders.
City, Liverpool in mix Neither side were too disheartened when Liverpool and City played out a 0- 0 draw at Anfield just before the international break to preserve their unbeaten starts to the league season.
After that anticipated thriller fell flat, though, both will be expected get back among the goals this weekend when Burnley visit the Etihad and winless Huddersfield host Liverpool. — AFP