ATP and WTA have joined hands to tweak the match schedule regulations in order to avoid late finishes. As per the tennis body, the number of late match finishes, mostly by midnight, have increased considerably over the years, prompting the change in the regulations.
ATP, WTA announce new match schedule regulations
- 1. No more than five matches per day per court (with an 11 a.m. start), with three matches during the day session and two matches during the evening session.
- 2. No matches to go on court after 11 p.m., unless approved by the ATP/WTA Supervisor in consultation with ATP/WTA management.
- 3. Matches not on court by 10:30 p.m. to be moved to an alternative court – by no later than 11 p.m.
- 4. Night sessions to begin no later than 7:30 p.m., with a recommendation for 6:30 p.m.
However, a waiver is up for the grabs under exceptional circumstances based on local cultural traditions, weather conditions, or other extenuating situations, to be considered by ATP/WTA.
The new scheduling rules are being implemented as part of a one-year trial in 2024, with further review to follow.
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“Match scheduling and tennis balls are both priority topics on our agenda, together with the WTA. It’s imperative that we evolve and adapt to the demands of the modern game, particularly where player health and fan experience are concerned. We’re optimistic about the impact we can make on both these fronts, now and in the longer term,” ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said.
Further, a strategic review of tennis balls used on the Tours is also underway.
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