ATP exec expects Nadal serve clock benefit

SERVE and warm-up clocks making their ATP and WTA main draw debuts on Monday will be a positive for players, even routine-filled server Rafael Nadal, predicted the ATP Tour’s officiating head.

“There may be some me bumps along the way but I think hink in the long run it’s going to be a positive for everybody,” ATP TP executive rules and competition ition vice president Gayle Bradshaw haw said on Monday.

“I’m optimistic this s is really going to be a big g plus. I think there’s some e anxiety because it’s new, but t once they get out and try y it they will be fine with th it.”

The US Open tested d the clocks in 2017 7 q u a l i f y i n g a n d announced plans to o use them in main draw matches when this year’s Grand Slam event begins August 27 on the New York hardcourts.

The ATP, WTA and US Tennis Association agreed on a protocol that would allow the clocks to be used in pre-US pre US Open events so players c o ul d be t t e r adjust to the change.

“For myself, it’s not going to be easy,” said Japan’s 20thr a n k e d K e i Nishikori, t h e 2014 US Open runner-up.

“I’m not going to have time to think much about where to put my serve between the points and with the heat it’s going to be a little bit tougher I think.

“There are many different p players. Some like to play q quick. Some guys like to take a lo lot of time between points. It m might be good for fans if they w want to see more points and q quicker points. I don’t know if it it’s good for players.”

Bradshaw says players such a as Nadal (pictured, AFP), who m makes several adjustments b before serving, or Novak Djoko ovic, who likes lots of ball b bouncing, will adjust.

“Both those guys, when they se see the time, will adapt,” he said. “R “Rafa, I think it’s going to be a b benefit, wearing down other guys af after chasing down his balls.”

Players and fans both called for faster pace of play, said Bradshaw, who noted ATP directors will meet in New York to consider using the clocks tour-wide next year.

Clocks won’t be in place in 2018 ATP Tour events after the US Open except the Next Gen event in Milan where they were tested last year.

A warm-up clock will hasten the pre-match process, allowing players five minutes for hitting and another minute to prepare before the start.

“They don’t have to get the ball in play. They just have to be ready to play,” Bradshaw said.

The serve clock will allow 25 seconds for players to begin the service motion, the umpire s t a r t i ng t he c l ock a f t e r announcing the score with receivers responsible for play- ing at the server’s place.

“We’re going to start the clocks when he starts his motion, not when he’s bouncing the ball,” Bradshaw said.

Umpires can pause or reset the clock to allow for an interruption and time is allowed for exchanging balls after games.

“We built a protocol that has common sense built into it,” Bradshaw said. “The things where they should pause should be obvious to everyone.

“If you have a great point, people go crazy, they’ll wait until applause dies down. When players hear the score, they know the clock has started.”

After a warning, servers will lose a serve and receivers will lose a point for clock violations.

“To me, this is a success if there are no time violations,” Bradshaw said.