Time for US Open to speed up play
The 50th anniversary of the U.S. Open will be highlighted by the unveiling of the 14,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium, but there are new accessories to admire as well.
Look out for the new clocks and oncourt furniture debuting in Flushing when the Open commences in 10 days.
According to the USTA, a “transparent’’ effort has been made to speed the pace and be consistent in eliminating unnecessary lag time. A clocking system will be in place for the first time at the Open to strictly enforce the rules.
A 25-second service clock will be omnipresent — visible at the southeast and northeast corners of the four showcourts and 13 field courts.
The Open will be the first Grand Slam event to decorate the grounds with service clocks. Previously, the chair umpires kept an informal clock in their heads to track whether a player deserved a delay-of-game warning.
The new format calls for the 25second clock to wind down once a new score is announced by the chair. Failure to be in service motion by the time the clock expires will result in a newly conceived fine. Attempts by a player to excessively stall out of exhaustion — or an angry one lambasting an umpire — are likely over.
“The big reason we’re doing this is to be transparent with the players and the live and broadcast audience between points,’’ U.S. Open tournament director David Brewer told The Post. “We want to get the information of the rules out there. There’s always a question about the pace of play. We’re encouraging the rules and time between points in a transparent way. It’s in the rules — loosely. It should resonate with New York fans.’’
The clocking system was tested last year in the qualifiers and junior Open event and was trotted out on a trial run during this month’s U.S. Open series tune-ups in Toronto, Montreal, Washington and Cincinnati.
“We didn’t want the Open to be the very first time the men and women are seeing it,’’ Brewer said.
The first match on the new Armstrong court will occur Wednesday before the Open. After a court dedication ceremony, John and Patrick McEnroe will face Michael Chang and James Blake.