Roger Federer last week spoke out "about the importance of players not taking too long between points, in order to keep people's attention on matches," according to Kamakshi Tandon of TENNIS magazine. Federer said, "I just think it's important that we, as players, play up to speed, and don't exceed the time limit, because what I don't want is that we lose viewers because we play too slow." Federer's comments came on a day when Rafael Nadal was "accused of taking too long between points by his opponent, Lukas Rosol." But Federer said that he was "speaking from one of his own experiences." Grand Slam rules allow players 20 seconds between points, though it "appears the rule is enforced less strictly than at ATP events, where players are allowed 25 seconds." Federer: "I was talking in particular if the points are short. You cannot take 25 seconds. I mean, I know you need to focus. That you can do in 10 seconds." He added, "The rules are there not to be broken, but of course you need to give leeway to tough rallies and somebody who needs a bit more time. I'm fine with that." Tandon noted the ATP Tour "began enforcing its 25-second rule more frequently a year ago, but also reduced the penalties for going over the limit." Federer said that the issue had "been discussed by the player council, which he was then a member of." Federer earlier this month said he was not going to run for re-election as ATP Player Council President (TENNIS.com, 6/27).
RELY ON THE HONOR SYSTEM? In N.Y., John Branch noted ESPN tennis analyst John McEnroe believes the game "needs to find ways to draw more attention." McEnroe said that the "players are better than they were in his generation," but the "entertainment is worse." He added that a "reasonable improvement" is to have the "players themselves call whether balls are in or out." Branch noted line-call challenges are "already a crowd-pleasing diversion" at tournaments like Wimbledon. The "tension of a match is momentarily suspended and fans clap in time while waiting for a cartoonish replay to appear on large video screens." That "pixilated arbiter has mostly rid the game of antijudge tirades and gamesmanship, the kind that McEnroe used to memorable effect as a player." Giving players a "chance to dispute one another’s calls might bring personality back to the forefront of the game." Reigning Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said, "With Hawk-Eye and stuff, it could work. But I don’t know any sports that play without umpires and linesmen. I think every single sport does, because things come up in matches, and sometimes you need someone other than just the opponent to talk to about it. I don’t see that changing" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/29).
