‘The biggest impact will be on Wimbledon’ – Rafael Nadal offers verdict on changes to Grand Slam scoring
Rafael Nadal is not concerned by the first-to-ten changes made to the final set tie-breaks of Grand Slams, saying it “won’t make a big impact” on his beloved French Open but thinks Wimbledon will be the most affected.
It was announced earlier this week that all four Grand Slams would adopt a uniform rule that will affect tie-breaks in the final deciding sets.
Previously, all four Slams held different rules for final sets that reach 6-6 but the new rule will make all four events the same.
At the French Open players had to gain a two-game advantage in the tie-break, whilst Wimbledon implemented a ‘super set’ where a tie-break would be played at 12-12 instead of 6-6.
As a result of Wimbledon’s rules, the English Slam has boasted a number of incredible marathon matches, including the longest match to ever be played when John Isner beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-3), 70-68 over 11 hours and five minutes.
The US Open had more conventional rules and the new changes will not affect the Australian Open at all.
This change will be implemented in an attempt to “create greater consistency” and “enhance the experience for the players and fans alike.”
Speaking in a post-match press conference, Nadal remained indifferent and said “I don’t care much, honestly. I honestly don’t have a clear opinion. I am not in favour or against.
“I think that’s what they decided. [Am I] happy with it or not? I don’t care. Honestly, I don’t think it is going to make a big difference.
“But I read that every one (Grand Slam) is going to be the same. In some way that’s positive. [But] I don’t think in Roland Garros it makes a big impact.
“In my opinion, the biggest impact will be on Wimbledon I think, that sometimes it’s so difficult to break sets so then the matches become very long.
“But I don’t feel that for Roland Garros it will change a lot. Okay, yes, it can be a few more games, but I don’t feel that in Roland Garros you are going to go normally 22-20 but at Wimbledon that can happen.”
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