(AFP) – Rafael Nadal slammed changes being mulled by tennis governing bodies to shorten matches and make them more TV-friendly, saying Sunday that the move goes against the sport’s “values”.
The kind of matches that stay on (in) the memory and on the history of our sport are a little bit long matches and dramatic matches that become emotional.
Women’s tennis boss Steve Simon told AFP last week the WTA was considering introducing super tie-breakers and no-ad scoring for singles matches.
Tennis – China Open – Beijing, China – 02/10/16. Rafael Nadal of Spain listens to reporters questions in Beijing. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain attends the press conference on day two of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 2, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain attends the press conference on day two of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 2, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain attends the press conference on day two of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 2, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain attends the press conference on day two of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 2, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain attends the press conference on day two of the 2016 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 2, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
If you want to change the values of the sport, maybe yes.
Tennis has values that we need to follow, in my opinion.
All the sports needs to improve and adapt to the new things. But I am not sure if that’s the way — to make the matches quicker.
You need to put everything together to create a great show, to create a show (so) that the people emotionally feel involved in the match.
But I am just a player.
Source: Agence France-Presse
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OLA & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) i LIKE YOUR THINKING AND YOUR SMART MIND DEAR RAFA!!!!! : ) You are spot on with your wisdom and your brilliant knowing of Tennis!!! : ) THE EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT IS WHAT ATTRACTS CROWDS AND LIVE STREAM FANS GLOBALLY!!!!! : ) PLUS THE PLAYERS , THE CROWD, UMPIRES & THE ENTIRE CREW ON THE COURT IS EQUALLY MESMERIZED BY THE INVOLVEMENT OF TENNIS MATCHES….MAKES ZERO SENSE TO SUGGEST CHANGES. RIGHT NOW TENNIS IS GOING THROUGH MAJOR TRANSITIONS AS IT IS WHERE IT IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR, & OF GREAT INTEREST BECAUSE OF YOU DEAR RAFA AND YOUR FEISTY PASSIONATE GAME ….YOU WALK ONTO THE COURT AND YOU BRING SO MUCH BEAUTY AND CLASS WITH YOUR STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL TENNIS. YOU ARE EASY ON THE EYES AS WELL : ) SUCH A CUTIE!!!!!!!!! : ) WHEN YOU PLAY WE ALL WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SINGLES, DOUBLES, EXHIBITIONS OR CHARITY…..WE WATCH LIVE WHEREVER YOU PLAY…… MANY TRUE TENNIS FANS ADORING YOU ARE WATCHING IT LIVE VIA THE NET & ….INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL, THERE IS GREATER RECENT INTEREST BECAUSE OF ALL THE MANY COUNTRIES INVOLVED……….IT IS SUCH A WORLDWIDE GIFT TO BE ENGAGED BY TENNIS TOURNAMENTS THAT INCLUDE MANY WONDERFUL COUNTRIES THAT OTHERWISE DO NOT INTERACT VIA THEIR CITIZENS….. TO TEMPER WITH THE FLOW OF INTEREST GLOBALLY IS NOT A WISE IDEA. HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME ADD THAT I SINCERELY HOPE THIS IS NOT GREED THAT MOTIVATES THIS BRIEF POOR IDEA OF POSSIBLY TEMPERING WITH TENNIS MATCH STRUCTURE: OFFERING LESS FOR THE SAME $$$$ ……..
LASTLY, YOU SWEETHEART RAFA YOU ARE NOT “JUST A PLAYER”….YOU ARE TENNIS FANS MOST FAVORITE PLAYER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) THE GOAT OF COMMITMENT….THE GOAT OF DISCIPLINE….THE GOAT OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND THE GOAT OF CLASSY FEISTY PLAY…… VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS SWEETHEART & ENJOY YOUR CHINA RUN !!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ALL THE BEST & HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )
A true tennis fan doesn’t want tennis games to be run by a stop-watch! We want to see a MATCH, whether it runs overtime or not!!! This suggestion of artificially shortening tennis matches is an insult to players and their audiences! I cannot believe ANYONE would be content with that kind of rationale!!!!! As far as THIS tennis fan is concerned, it’s THUMBS DOWN on that suggestion!!!!
All the ‘classics’ or ‘best matches ever’ are the 5 setters, no?
Of course Rafa is right. He respects the history of the sport. Tennis would not be the same without matches like:
2012 Australian Open: Djokovic D Nadal 5-7-6-4 8-2 6-7 7-5
2008 Wimbledon final: Many consider the greatest tennis match in the open era.
Nadal d Federer 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7 (2007 final ranks up there as well)
Now said. Modifications to Wimbledon’s 5th set rule might be something. Isner D Mahut in the fifth set 70-68 was just a little too long for me.
Yes. It is the matches that leave not only the players emotionally drained but the fans as well. What would tennis be do without matches like:
2012 Ausi Open: djokovic D Nadal: 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5
And:
Perhaps the greatest match in the history of the tennis open: 2008 Wimbleton final.
Nadal D Federer: 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7
* 2007 Wimbleton final was pretty darn amazing as well.
Vamos Rafa!!!
I am sure this is just bowing to the tv companies . They want shorter matches so their schedules are not disrupted. Too bad. I don’t think people are bored with long matches at all. When the score is 2 all in a Grand Slam the fifth and deciding set is full of excitement.
If this new rule comes in I think it will be the death of tennis as we know it.
Save it for exhibition matches and leave the rest alone.
Rafa is correct, and after all that is what tennis is about the,COMPETITION,
not just being on and then gone.
THe crowd at a match are genuinely disappointed when a game starts,
and it is over as quick as it started.
Alaine
Rafa is completely right and so are you Diane , my god if the players don’t mind being out there for hours giving blood ,sweat and tears why change it . I have watched many a match that has gone on for hours and loved it and heard many commentator’s say the crowd want more Come on just leave well alone , why try and change something that works
I live for those epic matches! Such suspense, excitement and so thrilling to watch and behold.
I hope the players can input their opinions and be taken seriously. After all we watch the players perform and compete not the governing bodies.
Also, the matches that I remember were quite long but I never minded because of the
brilliant displays of strategy and shot-making. Also there are so many shifts in momentum that are captured in these long epic matches. Also in other sports like baseball, basketball, football, etc. I never mind when it goes into extra innings or over-time due to the hard fought battle for all the fans to experience.
Please don’t tamper with the already established formula for the length of tennis matches.
It’s a winning formula!
I whole-heartedly and totally agree with Rafa! Game on!
I agree with Rafa. It is the matches that can go either way that keep you on the edge of your seat that are exciting. If they change the format to make them shorter it will just make them boring and people will stop watching.