TENNIS NEWS • “THE JOHN ISNER RULE” • WIMBLEDON INSTITUTES LAST-SET TIEBREAKER

Written by: Staff on 19th October 2018

TENNIS NEWS • "THE JOHN ISNER RULE" • WIMBLEDON INSTITUTES LAST-SET TIEBREAKER |

Photo by 10sBalls

By Ricky Dimon

“The John Isner Rule” has finally arrived–at least at Wimbledon.

Starting in 2019, Wimbledon will become the second of the four majors to feature a tiebreaker in the fifth set. While the U.S. Open plays it at the traditional 6-6 score, the All-England Club will let fifth sets play out until 12-12 before a tiebreaker will bring an end to the proceedings.

The Australian Open and French Open, for the time being, still play out a full fifth set.

“Our view was that the time had come to introduce a tiebreak for matches that had not reached their natural conclusion at a reasonable point during the deciding set,” All-England Lawn and Tennis Center chairman Philip Brook stated. “While we know the instances of matches extending deep into the final set are rare, we feel that a tiebreak at 12-12 strikes an equitable balance between allowing players ample opportunity to complete the match to advantage, while also providing certainty that the match will reach a conclusion in an acceptable time frame.”

John Isner (L) of the USA poses with Nicolas Mahut (R) of France next to the scoring board after winning his first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 24 June 2010. EPA/ALISTAIR GRANT

Isner and Kevin Anderson waged a semifinal battle that ended with Anderson prevailing 26-24 in the fifth this summer. The six-hour and 35-minute extravaganza reignited a debate that began in earnest back in 2010–also involving Isner. That’s when he famously outlasted Nicolas Mahut in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(3), 70-68 marathon that lasted 11 hours and five minutes over three days.

“I’m a proponent of changing that rule, for sure,” Isner said following his loss to Anderson. “I think it needs to be done.”

“It’s way beyond a normal tennis match or tactics,” Anderson concurred. “I’s just who’s going to outlast each other. It’s pretty tough in the format that we have right now, especially at slams. I mean, it’s not easy in that setting at the end.”

During that same post-match press conference, the 6’8” South African suggested the tiebreaker at 12-12 option.

When told of Anderson’s suggestion, Isner called it “a sensible idea.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @TennGrand.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Nicolas Mahut, Sports, Tennis, The Championships, Wimbledon

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.