MY ACCOUNT
The Grand Slam Board has announced that first-to-10 tie-breaks will conclude the final sets of all four majors with immediate effect.
Starting with May’s French Open, the decision is being adopted on a trial basis with the aim of providing “greater consistency” to the rules when matches go the distance.
Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, the French Open, Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon each had their own rules when games went to a deciding tie-break.
The Australian Open is the only grand slam to already employ the first-to-10 rule at 6-6.
Wimbledon previously played first-to-seven at 12-12, while the US Open played a first-to-seven at 6-6.
There has not previously been a deciding tie-break at Roland-Garros, with all matches continuing until a player secured a two-game lead in the decider.
A statement released on behalf of Grand Slam Board members Jayne Hrdlicka, Gilles Moretton, Ian Hewitt and Mike McNulty confirmed the changes.
It read: “The Grand Slam Board’s decision is based on a strong desire to create greater consistency in the rules of the game at the Grand Slams, and thus enhance the experience for the players and fans alike.
“This trial, which has been approved by the rules of the tennis committee governed by the ITF, will apply to all Grand Slams across qualifying, men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, wheelchair and junior events in singles, and will commence at the 2022 edition of Roland-Garros.”
The rule change will be reviewed after a full Grand Slam year and will remain in place should it be deemed a success.
The tweaks to the current format will ensure no repeat of John Isner’s marathon battle with Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, which the American edged 70-68 in the final set of their first-round match.
