Legendary Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovich has put forward a radical initiative to change the rules of the game. According to the 24-time Grand Slam champion, modern tennis is too conservative and risks losing the interest of a new audience due to the length of matches. In an interview with American blogger Nick Knows Ball, the athlete outlined a plan to shorten match times, which he believes will make the sport more dynamic and exciting.
The Formula for the Perfect Match
Djokovich proposed specific changes to the scoring system that would allow any match to fit within a two-hour timeframe. Key points of his proposal include:
- Switching to a set format of four games won instead of the classic six.
- Complete abolition of the "deuce" rule (no-ad), where play continues until an advantage is achieved after a score of 40-40.
- Maintaining the five-set format exclusively for key tournaments to avoid losing the spirit of the fight in decisive encounters.
The Serbian athlete emphasized that he is ready to personally advocate for this idea before the tour leadership. He fears that if tournaments do not become faster, the youth will only follow the game during the decisive stages of the Grand Slam, ignoring the early rounds.
The Experience Already Exists
The idea of shortening matches is not absolutely new. The format proposed by Djokovich has been successfully tested for almost ten years at the ATP Next Gen Finals for the best players under 20. This experimental format has proven its effectiveness, as in different years the tournament was won by future stars of world tennis, such as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Thus, Djokovich's proposal is based on an already working model that has proven its viability among young talents. Now the question is whether the organizers of adult tournaments are ready to take such radical measures to attract a new audience.
