Australian Open set to follow Wimbledon’s lead with final-set tie-breakers
The Australian Open looks set to become the next Grand Slam to introduce final-set tie-breakers on the back of Kevin Anderson and John Isner’s epic Wimbledon semi-final.
Anderson and Isner slugged it out for six hours and 36 minutes at SW19 earlier this year with the South African emerging victorious after taking the final set 26-24.
Many players and commentators called for change and the All England Lawn Tennis Club eventually gave in as announced that as of next year the final set will go to a tie-breaker once the scores hit 12-12.
And it looks like the Australian Open will follow suit as Tennis Australia has been given permission by the Grand Slam Board to make the tweak to the rule.
However, it will be different to the Wimbledon change as play will go straight to the tie-breaker once the scores are 6-6 in the final set, which is the same rule that applies at the US Open.
The Telegraph, though, reports that “just to add an extra variation, the tie-break will be the slightly expanded first-to-ten-points version used on the doubles tour, rather than the old-fashioned first-to-seven”.
Should the change be implemented it will leave Roland Garros as the only Grand Slam that doesn’t use tie-breakers in the final set.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Haas makes bold prediction over Roger Federer’s future
-
John Isner hits back at ‘arrogant’ Lleyton Hewitt over Australian’s Justin Gimelstob tweet
-
EXCLUSIVE: Tommy Haas on retirement and his upcoming appearance in London
-
Comment: ATP needs to take a hard line with ‘showman’ Justin Gimelstob
-
Tennis betting special: Kyle Edmund 14/1 to win a Grand Slam in 2019
-
Latest
-
Tennis News
Final moments of the Novak Djokovic era of dominance were hard to identify
Novak Djokovic’s reign as the king of men’s tennis appeared to be set to run and run – but the mood has changed.
-
Tennis News
Juan Martin del Potro makes Novak Djokovic claim as he weighs in on GOAT debate
“I believe that if he wins a couple more Grand Slams, there will no longer be a discussion.”
-
Tennis News
Emma Raducanu set for another rankings fall – but the only way is up now
Emma Raducanu is projected to tumble down the WTA rankings when the new list is released next week.
-
Tennis News
Gael Monfils makes brutal Carlos Alcaraz admission as he describes facing the Spaniard
“I feel like I’m getting eaten up, but at the same time, I feel like I’m playing well.”
-
Tennis News
Coco Gauff makes Novak Djokovic confession and reveals she modelled key shot after the Serb
“I tried to model it after Novak Djokovic a lot. That’s where that inspiration comes from.”
-
ATP Tour
Lorenzo Musetti told what he needs to do to beat ‘inspirational’ Carlos Alcaraz
“Alcaraz can play through you, he can play around you, he can bring you in so I just don’t know where Musetti goes.”
-
Tennis News
‘Federer, Nadal, Djokovic era will never happen again’ – former star makes ‘brutal change’ claim
“The sooner we accept it, the better. And the sooner the comparisons stop, well, [the] better.”
-
Tennis Features
The 9 oldest No 1s in men’s tennis: Novak Djokovic days away from breaking Roger Federer’s record
The countdown to Novak Djokovic becoming the oldest world No 1 is on.
-
WTA Tour
Iga Swiatek stunned in Miami as Ekaterina Alexandrova achieves rare feat against the world No 1
Ekaterina Alexandrova didn’t drop serve en route to victory over Iga Swiatek.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz makes star-struck confession as he ‘puts on a show’ for sporting greats
Juan Martin del Potro, Neymar and Jimmy Butler watched Carlos Alcaraz’s latest Miami Open match.