Innovations, Rules Revealed For 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF
The seventh edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF is set to commence later this month, when the Top eight 20-and-under players in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah face off in Saudi Arabia.
The ATP on Wednesday announced the innovations and rules for the 2024 event, to be held from 18-22 December.
[ATP APP]The tournament, created to spotlight tennis’ rising talents, continues to evolve. Several of this year’s innovations and rules are designed to enhance the flow of the game, including reduced warm up, no let rule, while other innovations include free fan movement and in-game Tennis IQ match date analytics for coaches courtside.
Look for the following in Jeddah in 2024:
SCORING:
– First-to-4, Best-of-5 set scoring: Each match shall be the best of 5 tie-break sets. Each set shall be first to 4 games with a margin of 2 games and a tie-break (first to 7 points with a margin of 2) played at 3-3. Each game shall be played using the No-Ad scoring format with the Server choosing the service box.
CHANGEOVERS:
– There will be no change of ends after the first game.
– Players will change ends and sit down for 90 seconds after the first three games are played, once more if the set score reaches 3:2 (i.e., after two more games in the set), and then again at the end of the set (regardless of the final set score).
– Players will change ends after every six points in the tie-break.
– Players will sit down at the end of the set for 90 seconds, reduced from 120 seconds.
RULES INITIATIVES:
– Warm-up: Players will warm up for 3 minutes on court.
– Ball change: After every 7 games.
– Serve Shot Clock: Up to 8 seconds will be permitted between first and second serve. A shot clock will display the time elapsed between the first and second serve.
– Time between Points: Continuing with the 2023 initiative, the time between points will be reduced from 25 seconds to 15 seconds if a point is below three shots (e.g., 2 shots = 15 seconds; 3 shots = 25 seconds).
– No Let Rule: Play continues even if the ball touches the net during a serve, provided it lands in the correct service box.
– Free Fan Movement: Free movement will be allowed in the stadium for the first three games of the match. After the first free games, fans will be allowed to move freely except for limited areas behind the baseline in direct player view.
– Movement by a spectator(s) in the designated free movement areas shall not constitute a legitimate pause in the shot clock.
Umpire Chair: Lower umpire chair to reduce the visual obstruction for fans in the arena.
INNOVATION INITIATIVES:
– Scoreboards: Simplified scoring graphics for improved fan consumption will be visualised in the arena to educate younger audiences that attend the event.
PLAYER PERFORMANCE INITIATIVES:
– Wearables: Players will be able to wear wearable devices in matches. The wearable data will be summarised and visualised so that players can gain a comprehensive overview of their physical performance and stress responses in matches.
– In-Match analytics: The Tennis IQ match data platform will be available to coaches sitting courtside, and video footage tagged with the match data will be available post-match. New insights will also be visualised in the arena.
View full rules here.
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