Former ATP Player Comments On Shot Clock In Tennis

Written by: Staff on 10th April 2013

Former ATP Player Comments On Shot Clock In Tennis |

In Daily Tennis news a few days ago, I saw a little blurb about the idea of a “shot clock” in tennis. It’s certainly an interesting discussion. I don’t know how many people are aware of it, but back in 1977 at the WCT Finals in Dallas, we had a clock on the court. That was thirty-six years ago! I don’t remember whether it was a thirty-second clock, a twenty-five second clock, a twenty-second clock or what. That’s not the point. The point is that we had a clock, everyone was aware of it and the concept worked fine. It is my feeling that if umpires are, indeed, going to enforce the time rule, they can only do it if there are clocks on the court so that the players are always aware of the amount of time left between points. Could you imagine pro basketball playing with a twenty-four second rule without a visible clock for the players, or football trying to enforce the thirty-second rule between plays without a visible clock for the quarterbacks to see? Why is the game of tennis so adamantly against having clocks on the court? It really makes one wonder about those who are supposedly working for the good of the game…

Note:

The comment above was submitted by Dick Stockton, former NCAA singles and doubles champion from Trinity, a six-time top 10 player on the pro tour and former men’s coach at the University of Virginia.

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Topics: Atp, Dick Stockton, Sports, Tennis News, tennis rules