Time is running out for timewasters as Grand Slams continue clock trials
Tennis chiefs have moved to clarify their position with regard to the introduction of a 25-second shot clock at next year’s grand slam tournaments.
The sport’s Grand Slam Tennis board issued an earlier statement which implied the controversial rule would be applied for the main draw of the Australian Open in January. But the organisation now says it will remain in the qualifying stages only for the time being - just as it was trialled in US Open qualifying in September.
Nevertheless the move to continue the experiment, which was also used at the recent Next Gen Finals in Milan, suggests it will be extended to main draws sooner rather than later.
This will be bad news to world No1 Rafael Nadal, who is a staunch opponent of the move, having insisted in August that it would ruin the chances of future epic matches.
Nadal said: “I think [the shot clock] is not possible for a great show. But if you don’t want a great show, of course it’s a great improvement.”
Another change involves the introduction of a potential fine for a player who either withdraws late or performs below what are deemed by the GSB to be “professional standards”.
Now, any player who plays in a first-round match and retires, or does not perform sufficiently well, could potentially forfeit his whole first-round prize money as a result.
All the grand slam tournaments will revert to 16 men’s and women’s seeds from the 2019 competitions onwards.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Kent has paid tribute to Jana Novotna following the Czech’s death from cancer, saying Wimbledon “will not be the same without her”.
Novotna, lost her battle with the disease on Sunday aged 49. She came to the attention of the British public in 1993 when she was famously consoled by the royal after losing the 1993 final to Steffi Graf, having led the final set. The Duchess embraced the Czech, telling her: “I know you will win it one day, don’t worry.” Novtona proved her right by winning the crown in 1998, after another final defeat in 1997.