Significant Change due to a player or match!

[Fiero425]

I've mention a few instances where the game of tennis changed it's schedule or even the format due to extenuating circumstances! The 1st that comes to mind was the Aussie Open being moved from January to December to maybe attract Borg since he was routinely in line for a CYGS taking the FO and Wimbledon 3 straight seasons; '78-80! They figured he'd win the USO sooner or later and he did make finals, but had the worst of luck there with scheduling, injuries, and speed of the court! Ten years later it was moved back to January in time for the ''88 season; now on HC instead of grass!

The next change I can think of happened in '84 with the Virginia Slims Champ.! Navratilova was on a run seldom seen in the modern game, routinely crushing her opponents in 40 min.! By that season she was even toying with Chris Evert on clay; allowing her only 6 games in 2 matches between the WTA CCC and FO finals! They decided to make the final a BO5 just to keep her on the court longer than an hour, but she still called the shots and put Evert out of her misery 6-1 in the 3rd! They continued that format until '99 going back to BO3 after several painful matches with children going 5 sets; Hingis, Seles, Sabatini!

The "court-line" calling system was the result of a match between Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams at the USO over 10 years ago! SW was hosed, but Capriati made the match more difficult for herself by not winning that 2nd & 3rd sets with leads; finally winning it 6-4 in the 3rd! There were some horrendous line calls and a system was developed called "Hawk-Eye" soon after! The rest has been as they would say "history!" Any others you can think of out there? This is OTTH! Any challenges?

 

[britbox]

Federer and Nadal skipping Hamburg in 2006 after a five setter in the Miami final was probably the catalyst to usher in the change for Masters finals from 5 sets to 3. There was still another year of best of 5 set finals, but I think this triggered it.

 

[Moxie]

Federer and Nadal skipping Hamburg in 2006 after a five setter in the Miami final was probably the catalyst to usher in the change for Masters finals from 5 sets to 3. There was still another year of best of 5 set finals, but I think this triggered it.

I was thinking of that one, though I believe it was the Rome 2006 final, not Miami. They were meant to go to Hamburg that same week, and both bailed.

 

[britbox]

I was thinking of that one, though I believe it was the Rome 2006 final, not Miami. They were meant to go to Hamburg that same week, and both bailed.

Yep, it was Rome.

 

[Moxie]

I don't know if it was Chang at the 1989 FO, but some player was suffering such leg cramps that the crowd was completely horrified at the lack of medical attention, and the rule was changed.

 

[Moxie]

match between Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams at the USO over 10 years ago! SW was hosed, but Capriati made the match more difficult for herself by not winning that 2nd & 3rd sets with leads; finally winning it 6-4 in the 3rd! There were some horrendous line calls and a system was developed called "Hawk-Eye" soon after!

For the record, I was at that match at Ashe, and Serena was never "hosed." (Except by the officiating in the 3rd set, particularly.) It was a close match, and an exciting one. The easiest set was the 1st, which Serena won (6-2.) The next went 6-4, 6-4 Capriati, so clearly that could have swung either way. Obviously, there was no replay, but the crowd has a sense of balance, with calls. In this case, all the calls seemed to be favoring Capriati. It was a night match, and the crowd was lubricated and boisterous. It really did start to feel unfair, and we left the stadium feeling that Serena was probably gypped.

 

[Fiero425]

Federer and Nadal skipping Hamburg in 2006 after a five setter in the Miami final was probably the catalyst to usher in the change for Masters finals from 5 sets to 3. There was still another year of best of 5 set finals, but I think this triggered it.

It's hard to avoid thinking Masters 1000 events have been devalued just a little by going BO3 making it easier for the current top player to have a nice run of 4-6 wins of the 9 solidifying a truly great season! That just didn't happen much when BO5; even winning back to back was a huge achievement! Nole won the 1st 3 a couple years ago! That never would have happened in past eras!

 

[kskate2]

I would have to say the tiebreak was a big change in tennis scoring. All brought about because 2 Newport finalists Ham Richardson and Straight Clark played a long singles match that forced the highly anticipated doubs match between Rosewall/Toad to be played on an outside court. The score in that 5 set singles match was 6-3, 9-7, 12-14, 6-8, 10-8. Jimmy Van Alen was so perplexed he had to move his high profile doubs match that he began working on the TB scoring system immediately.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

For the record, I was at that match at Ashe, and Serena was never "hosed." (Except by the officiating in the 3rd set, particularly.) It was a close match, and an exciting one. The easiest set was the 1st, which Serena won (6-2.) The next went 6-4, 6-4 Capriati, so clearly that could have swung either way. Obviously, there was no replay, but the crowd has a sense of balance, with calls. In this case, all the calls seemed to be favoring Capriati. It was a night match, and the crowd was lubricated and boisterous. It really did start to feel unfair, and we left the stadium feeling that Serena was probably gypped.

I think there was already an electronic review system in place, but not for official reasons, just for the TV. This really showed up beyond any doubt how bad the line calling was in that match. So people were already developing these systems, but I do believe that this match played a huge role in getting tennis authorities to look at having them used in an official capacity.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/11/2004-mariana-alves-missed-call-ushers-hawk-eye/56853/

 

[Fiero425]

I think there was already an electronic review system in place, but not for official reasons, just for the TV. This really showed up beyond any doubt how bad the line calling was in that match. So people were already developing these systems, but I do believe that this match played a huge role in getting tennis authorities to look at having them used in an official capacity.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/11/2004-mariana-alves-missed-call-ushers-hawk-eye/56853/

I always thought it just as insane in Football; the technology existed for instant replays, everyone seeing what happened except officials who did't have access! Now Baseball has gone to instant replay by the umpire!