All four Grand Slam tournaments will operate under the same scoring format following years of differences between the events.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning by the Grand Slam Board, it has been agreed that the final set of matches will be decided by a 10-point tiebreaker once the score reaches 6-6. Tennis bosses say the decision has been taken to ‘create greater consistency in the rules’ and ‘enhance’ the match experience for both players and fans.
“This trial, which has been approved by the Rules of 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 statement reads.
Until now each tournament has had its own unique format. For example, at Wimbledon, a standard tiebreaker was played once the score reached 12-12 in the decider. Meanwhile, the French Open had no final set tiebreaker rule.
“It may disappoint the purists (traditionalists) but we are proud to line up with the other Grand Slams with a super tie-break at 6-6 in the fifth set.” French Open tournament Amélie Mauresmo told reporters.
There is one exception to the new format. Three Grand Slams will replace the final set of matches played in Mixed Doubles, Junior doubles and Wheelchair doubles with a 10-point tiebreaker. However, The All England Club has confirmed that Wimbledon will not be making this change and instead will keep the format the same as the other events. No reason has been given as to why Wimbledon has decided to do this differently compared to the other major events.
The trial of the new format will begin at this year’s French Open until next year’s Australian Open. The development comes 52 years after the US Open became the first major to implement a final set tiebreaker back in 1970.
