TENNIS NEWS – NEW RULES INVOLVING SHOT CLOCK AND COACHING TAKE CENTER STAGE IN U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING, BUT NOT FOR MAIN DRAW

Written by: Staff on 27th August 2017

TENNIS NEWS - NEW RULES INVOLVING SHOT CLOCK AND COACHING TAKE CENTER STAGE IN U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING, BUT NOT FOR MAIN DRAW

epa05530946 The New York City skyline at sunset including the Empire State Building (L) and the Chrysler Building (3R) as seen from Arthur Ashe Stadium shortly before the start of the two women's Semifinal round matches on the eleventh day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 08 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JASON SZENES |

New rules involving shot clock and coaching take center stage in U.S. Open qualifying, but not for main draw

By Ricky Dimon

Stakes are always especially high during the qualifying portion of Grand Slams. Big prize money and a considerable number of ranking points are available for players who may be struggling on tour or are new to the professional scene. This year’s U.S. Open qualifying tournament had all of that–and more.

In qualifying this past week, new rules involving a serve shot clock and coaching from the stands were implemented. Competitors had 25 seconds between points to serve, with a countdown clock displayed proudly on scoreboards. Umpires enforced penalties whenever the clock struck zero. As for coaching, players could talk to their coach whenever they were on the same side of the court, only from someone who was sitting in an official coaching box, and only if it did not disrupt play.

There were also time limits in between warmups and the official start of a match and for changing clothes in between sets.

In the first round of qualifying on both the men’s and women’s sides, there were more than 17,000 total points played. Only nine times did someone incur a shot-clock violation. Two players took too much time in between the warmup and the beginning of their match. Not a single man or woman was penalized for taking more than five minutes to change an outfit in between sets.

Stacey Allaster, the USTA’s chief executive for professional tennis, has been at the heart of these changes. She hopes some–if not all–of them will soon be implemented even for main-draw action at Grand Slams.

“What is this about? This isn’t what Stacey Allaster wants or USTA wants or what television wants,” she explained. “This is all about the fans. We’re in the business of promoting tennis and we have to stop looking inside, at what we like, and look at what fans want. We have to, in order to be competitive with other sports, deliver the product as quickly, as consistently, as we can, to keep fans engaged; particularly younger fans.”

According to the numbers Allaster received, on Day 1 of qualifying chair umpires observed 73 percent of players receiving legal coaching help. On Day 2 that number came in at 81 percent.

But now main-draw festivities have arrived, and the time for shenanigans and tomfoolery has come to an end. Now it gets serious. Now it gets traditional. The new-look rules of qualifying are things of the past…at least for now.