Next Gen Finals 2018

[herios]

I highly doubt that will ever happen. That would be like shortening a baseball game to 6 innings...it just flies in the face of too much hallowed tradition.

If they want to shorten matches, there are other ways: speed up at least some courts, enforce the serve clock, and little things here and there (like limit the number butt picks and other OCD tics ).

There are more things experimented at this event, not just the short sets.
One which I like and I would very much like to see it implemented is the no let call on serve.
For me, to repeat the serve is a waste of time. So what if it touches the net?
It went over, then play the damn ball.

 

[Moxie]

There are more things experimented at this event, not just the short sets.
One which I like and I would very much like to see it implemented is the no let call in serve.
For me, to repeat the serve is a waste of time. So what if it touches the net?
It went over, then play the damn ball.

I agree with this. It's been debated for ages, but the only argument against is that players might learn to use the net on serve. I find that rather absurd, as it's risky. They play everything else when it hits the net. Might bring players to the net more. How about that for a benefit?

 

[herios]

I agree with this. It's been debated for ages, but the only argument against is that players might learn to use the net on serve. I find that rather absurd, as it's risky. They play everything else when it hits the net. Might bring players to the net more. How about that for a benefit?

Exactly. I also find it absurd. Nobody is that precise to be able to target the net and "be sure it falls on the other side".
And I heard players being in favour of this change.

 

[Moxie]

Exactly. I also find it absurd. Nobody is that precise to be able to target the net and "be sure it falls on the other side".
And I heard players being in favour of this change.

I think this is the best of some of the new options on the table. And I've heard old players like Martina championing it, as well. There is no downside, and it speeds things up. It seems the shot-clock is in, too. I don't like the 4-game/set version of tennis, though. It really does take the drama out of mature games.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I agree with this. It's been debated for ages, but the only argument against is that players might learn to use the net on serve. I find that rather absurd, as it's risky. They play everything else when it hits the net. Might bring players to the net more. How about that for a benefit?

I am against it. Even if the players deliberately don't do it, when the ball hits the net and falls short, it is very difficult for the returner to come up in time to have a go at it. Especially, think of your idol who typically stands two miles behind the baseline. There is no way he can go up to the net on a let.

It takes fun out of the game. I am for the status quo. But, if you put a gun on my head and ask me to pick between no ad games and no let service, it will be an easy call for me and I would go for no let serve.

 

[Moxie]

I am against it. Even if the players deliberately don't do it, when the ball hits the net and falls short, it is very difficult for the returner to come up in time to have a go at it. Especially, think of your idol who typically stands two miles behind the baseline. There is no way he can go up to the net on a let.

It takes fun out of the game. I am for the status quo. But, if you put a gun on my head and ask me to pick between no ad games and no let service, it will be an easy call for me and I would go for no let serve.

Perhaps Rafa would be forced to stand in closer. Or else it would, as I suggested, force players to the net. I don't see why that's a worse way of shortening points than a quick ace. It would probably change the game a bit, but not in a way that doesn't suit the way that players already play. They'd adjust, IMO. And I definitely agree I'm against no ad games. That would take out a lot of drama.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Connors in 5! It was like, all that work and Tanner went home with a R-up chk! I'll look it up! I'm sure it's on Connors Wiki page! :whistle:

Did you find any confirmation? My google search confirmed your memory of that Connors-Tanner match. It must have been 41 years ago: 1977 WCT challenge Cup in Vegas:
http://www.stevegtennis.com/draw-results/atp/WCT_Challenge_Cup/1977/
It went indeed 5 sets but none of the sets resulted in TB, so your remarkable memory got confused on that part. I found no record of RR matches in that tourney though
The other match of those 2 champs featuring all TB sets happened in 1981 Masters in NY, confirmed by ATP, but it was 3 sets only (won by Tanner) second last in their H2H:
https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/players/fedex-head-2-head/jimmy-connors-vs-roscoe-tanner/C044/T006

But you don't have to go that far back in time to find an unusual YE championship result, where a player with miserable 1-2 record in RR advanced and went all the way. Look at Singapore 2015 (fresh enough so that even I can remember it) where Radwanska very luckily advanced out of a 3-way tie at the second place (by virtue of 3-4 in sets, while opponents were 2-4) and she went on to win the title with 2 very tough matches. So, even better than Tanner in 1977 because she won all the way!
Then, are you ready for that... the perfectly identical run from a poor 1-2 (and 3-4 sets) 3-way tie into the championship, was repeated in Singapore 2016, this time by Cibulkova. Comparing said Singapore RR group standings from 2015 & 2016 and the two champions' paths, one may think this is some kind of sorcery: how could the WTA finals history repeat itself so literally?

 

[britbox]

Hoping to see a Tsitsipas / De Minaur final.

De Minaur has just passed the $1 million prize money milestone for the season.

 

[Fiero425]

Did you find any confirmation? My google search confirmed your memory of that Connors-Tanner match. It must have been 41 years ago: 1977 WCT challenge Cup in Vegas:
http://www.stevegtennis.com/draw-results/atp/WCT_Challenge_Cup/1977/
It went indeed 5 sets but none of the sets resulted in TB, so your remarkable memory got confused on that part. I found no record of RR matches in that tourney though
The other match of those 2 champs featuring all TB sets happened in 1981 Masters in NY, confirmed by ATP, but it was 3 sets only (won by Tanner) second last in their H2H:
https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/players/fedex-head-2-head/jimmy-connors-vs-roscoe-tanner/C044/T006

But you don't have to go that far back in time to find an unusual YE championship result, where a player with miserable 1-2 record in RR advanced and went all the way. Look at Singapore 2015 (fresh enough so that even I can remember it) where Radwanska very luckily advanced out of a 3-way tie at the second place (by virtue of 3-4 in sets, while opponents were 2-4) and she went on to win the title with 2 very tough matches. So, even better than Tanner in 1977 because she won all the way!
Then, are you ready for that... the perfectly identical run from a poor 1-2 (and 3-4 sets) 3-way tie into the championship, was repeated in Singapore 2016, this time by Cibulkova. Comparing said Singapore RR group standings from 2015 & 2016 and the two champions' paths, one may think this is some kind of sorcery: how could the WTA finals history repeat itself so literally?

Thanks! I didn't mean the final match had TB's; just remember that the tourney had TB's at 5 all! That's the thing that stood out thinking about NG event going to a TB's at 4 all! It's not like they haven't thought about this before! :whistle:

 

[herios]

Hoping to see a Tsitsipas / De Minaur final.

De Minaur has just passed the $1 million prize money milestone for the season.

Tsitsipas and De Minaur had a fantastic season, a final here for them would be just the icing on the cake

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Did you find any confirmation? My google search confirmed your memory of that Connors-Tanner match. It must have been 41 years ago: 1977 WCT challenge Cup in Vegas:
http://www.stevegtennis.com/draw-results/atp/WCT_Challenge_Cup/1977/
It went indeed 5 sets but none of the sets resulted in TB, so your remarkable memory got confused on that part. I found no record of RR matches in that tourney though
The other match of those 2 champs featuring all TB sets happened in 1981 Masters in NY, confirmed by ATP, but it was 3 sets only (won by Tanner) second last in their H2H:
https://www.atpworldtour.com/en/players/fedex-head-2-head/jimmy-connors-vs-roscoe-tanner/C044/T006

But you don't have to go that far back in time to find an unusual YE championship result, where a player with miserable 1-2 record in RR advanced and went all the way. Look at Singapore 2015 (fresh enough so that even I can remember it) where Radwanska very luckily advanced out of a 3-way tie at the second place (by virtue of 3-4 in sets, while opponents were 2-4) and she went on to win the title with 2 very tough matches. So, even better than Tanner in 1977 because she won all the way!
Then, are you ready for that... the perfectly identical run from a poor 1-2 (and 3-4 sets) 3-way tie into the championship, was repeated in Singapore 2016, this time by Cibulkova. Comparing said Singapore RR group standings from 2015 & 2016 and the two champions' paths, one may think this is some kind of sorcery: how could the WTA finals history repeat itself so literally?

Ya, but that is wimin's tennis where anything can happen, especially these days. When was the last time such a thing happened at respectable Men's Tennis Game.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tsitsipas and De Minaur had a fantastic season, a final here for them would be just the icing on the cake

Actually D-Minor came into prominence by doing well in the Australian warm up tourneys for AO. So, if he can win this, this year would be memorable for him as it would have a great start and great finish.

While Preseus's achievements are of higher order than that of D-Minor, Preseus suddenly broke in some time in the clay season of the year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

D-Minor wins his SF against J-Minor, even though he had to fight for it.

 

[Fiero425]

Rublev seems to have tied it up by stealing the 2nd set in a TB! Stefano T. won the 1st in a TB as well, but I expected a straight set win! Rublev's done nothing this season I can remember while Perseus has been killing it! He might be a little tired playing so many tournaments! :whistle:

 

[herios]

Rublev seems to have tied it up by stealing the 2nd set in a TB! Stefano T. won the 1st in a TB as well, but I expected a straight set win! Rublev's done nothing this season I can remember while Perseus has been killing it! He might be a little tired playing so many tournaments! :whistle:

That steal from Rublev was false slarm next set Stefanos fed Rublev a Greek doughnut

 

[GameSetAndMath]

But, Rublev has forced the fifth set now.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Perseus wins in 5 and that too in a TB.

Rightfully, the two top dogs will duel for the model tomorrow.

 

[Fiero425]

Perseus wins in 5 and that too in a TB.

Rightfully, the two top dogs will duel for the model tomorrow.

Wow; even with the shortened format, ST should be a little exhausted! :whistle:

 

[El Dude]

I turned it on just in time to see Rublev repeated hit his own shoes with his racket, after slipping. Not a great moment for him.

 

[herios]

I turned it on just in time to see Rublev repeated hit his own shoes with his racket, after slipping. Not a great moment for him.

He is surely choleric.