Talk About Tennis 2.0

Quoting the 'official rules of tennis'
the clear intent is that play should be continuous.. everything else is an exception!
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As a principle, play should be continuous, from the time the match starts (when the

first service of the match is put in play) until the match finishes.



a. Between points, a maximum of twenty (20) seconds is allowed. When the

players change ends at the end of a game, a maximum of ninety (90) seconds

are allowed. However, after the first game of each set and during a tie-break

game, play shall be continuous and the players shall change ends without a

rest. At the end of each set there shall be a set break of a maximum of one hundred

and twenty (120) seconds. The maximum time starts from the moment that one point finishes until the first service is

struck for the next point. Event organizers may apply for ITF approval to extend the ninety (90)

seconds allowed when the players change ends at the end of a game and the

one hundred and twenty (120) seconds allowed at a set break.



b. If, for reasons outside the player’s control, clothing, footwear or necessary

equipment (excluding the racket) is broken or needs to be replaced, the player

may be allowed reasonable extra time to rectify the problem.



c. No extra time shall be given to allow a player to recover condition. However,

a player suffering from a treatable medical condition may be allowed one

medical time-out of three minutes for the treatment of that medical condition.

A limited number of toilet/change of attire breaks may also be allowed, if this

is announced in advance of the event.



d. Event organizers may allow a rest period of a maximum of ten (10) minutes if

this is announced in advance of the event. This rest period can be taken after

the 3rd set in a best of 5 sets match, or after the 2nd set in a best of 3 sets

match.



e. The warm-up time shall be a maximum of five (5) minutes, unless otherwise

decided by the event organizers.

What year is that ^ from?
It mentions a maximum of 20 seconds between points when it's been 25 seconds for a while now...

And it mentions that "toilet/change of attire breaks" are permitted, as we all know.
So I don't see how it can state that 'play shall be continuous' while at the same time allowing for bathroom breaks - that's simply contradictory and illogical.

In any case, the fact is that bathroom (and/or change of attire) breaks are permitted - so it comes down to individual interpretation as to whether the timing of such breaks is 'poor sportsmanship', or 'unethical', or not.
As I stated, I have no problem with Djokovic (or any other player) taking a time-out to reset themselves. Other sports allow it - and there's a valid reason they're permitted. So why not in tennis, as well?

Yes, interpretation..that is why I said 'borderline'..my interpretation is it is not quite ok..someone else may disagree..but it is worth a ponder...

The Rules of Tennis 2022 on the ITF site does have the change to 25 seconds. Otherwise the wording is the same.

And the spirit of the game has not changed..though 20 may have changed to 25!

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 2:54 am

Cuckoo4Coco wrote:

Deuce wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:22 pm
^ That is absolute and utter BS.
Tennis needs to take a good, hard look at itself and decide whether it wants to be a respectable, legitimate, honest sport, or if it wants to go the full 'entertainment' route like the WWE and UFC.

I have a big problem with underhanded serves. I find them to be an underhanded tactic. The reason is because, with a traditional overhand serve, the receiver sees the wind-up, and so can time the split step, or whatever he/she does to return.
The underhand serve can easily be done (and is most often done) to completely surprise the receiver when the receiver is not ready. It's the same as a quick pitch in baseball (pitcher throwing when the batter isn't ready) - which is not permitted in baseball. The entire purpose of the underhand serve is to catch the receiver by surprise. And that's complete BS and extremely poor sportsmanship in my book.

It's very different than a drop shot during a point - which is a fair and legitimate play... because a drop shot is played while the opponent is moving and active and ready. The underhand serve is done when the receiver is completely flat-footed.

The underhand serve needs to be banned before tennis turns into the WWE.

I am gonna play a little Devils Advocate here because I am also not really an advocate for the underhand serve, but what if the player is in the deciding set and just a few points away from winning the match and they are cramping badly and they are unable to complete the service motion without being in terrible pain? Do they still try and toss the ball and just bloop the ball in or is it ok to do the underhand serve or should they just retire even though they are so close to winning the match?

Ever heard of Michael Chang and his famous underhand serve in the 1989 French Open, when he was cramping vs Lendl? If not, YouTube it. It’s one of the most famous plays in modern history.

I don't know of it, but I will look it up.

Cuckoo4Coco wrote:

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 2:54 am

Cuckoo4Coco wrote: I am gonna play a little Devils Advocate here because I am also not really an advocate for the underhand serve, but what if the player is in the deciding set and just a few points away from winning the match and they are cramping badly and they are unable to complete the service motion without being in terrible pain? Do they still try and toss the ball and just bloop the ball in or is it ok to do the underhand serve or should they just retire even though they are so close to winning the match?

Ever heard of Michael Chang and his famous underhand serve in the 1989 French Open, when he was cramping vs Lendl? If not, YouTube it. It’s one of the most famous plays in modern history.

I don't know of it, but I will look it up.

Here you go. Chang was a teenager when he won. This match is an incredible story. Ivan Lendl was a champion by then - maybe No. 1 in the world at the time. A machine.




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meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 12:58 pm

Cuckoo4Coco wrote:

meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 2:54 am
Ever heard of Michael Chang and his famous underhand serve in the 1989 French Open, when he was cramping vs Lendl? If not, YouTube it. It’s one of the most famous plays in modern history.

I don't know of it, but I will look it up.

Here you go. Chang was a teenager when he won. This match is an incredible story. Ivan Lendl was a champion by then - maybe No. 1 in the world at the time. A machine.




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That is so awesome. The one thing I got out of that underhand serve is Chang said it had spin on it and with that and the fact it also caught Lendl off guard and his return shot clipped the net really helped that shot give him the winner. Chang must have also been even at the age of 17 years old a very good mental player.

Lendl was #1, and, of course, the #1 seed. The circumstance were different: Chang was cramping badly, and no, he was not faking it in any way. He could barely push up with his legs to serve.
Lendl was asked about that serve after the match. He dismissed any thoughts of it being gamesmanship.

When you are cramping or injured I think you do anything you possibly can to win points and stay in the match that is within the rules of the game.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 1:26 pm Lendl was #1, and, of course, the #1 seed. The circumstance were different: Chang was cramping badly, and no, he was not faking it in any way. He could barely push up with his legs to serve.
Lendl was asked about that serve after the match. He dismissed any thoughts of it being gamesmanship.

I didn't know until watching the video that Chang walked to the umpire's chair to retire in the fifth set. He stopped at the service line and had a change of heart. Said he didn't want to be known as a quitter. A decision that changed his life.

His sole slam, and yes, he had a reputation as a fighter. Because he really had very little else. Very much the David Ferrer of his days.

What I also liked from the video is when he said how little he was and not very many men players were like him on the tour. I am a female and there are more smaller players than small male players on the tour but I always cheer for the small players like Simona Halep.