Time violations are issued any time the serve clock reaches '0' before a player begins their serving motionGETTY IMAGES
The tennis shot clock is "finding unlikely favor with players known for taking longer between points, helping them stay within the rules and even providing a few extra seconds," according to Kamakshi Tandon of TENNIS.com. The clock is being used at events in DC, Toronto, Montreal and Cincinnati "following the U.S. Open's decision to introduce it in regular competition." Tennis player Marin Cilic said, "It's what we needed in the game. It has been so much talked about, and I feel also for the referees, the responsibility is taken from them." Novak Djokovic has been known for "sometimes lengthy ball-bouncing" before serving. But Djokovic said that he has "not experienced extra pressure" with the clock. However, there has been "variation among umpires, with much more time given before the start of clock in Rafael Nadal's opening round match than his second" at last week's Rogers Cup. Rules "require a time violation to be issued any time the clock reaches '0' before a player begins their serving motion." Umpires had been "frequently" warning players before "issuing a first violation -- something Grigor Dimitrov was still looking for as he began arguing with the umpire about a time violation during his third round" match at the Rogers Cup. ATP Exec VP/Rules & Competition Gayle Bradshaw said, "Everyone's getting used to it, the players, the chair umpires. We're having to work with the chair umpires, setting them on their rhythm, when they forget or they start the clock before, or maybe forget to pause it. So far, it's been pretty good" (TENNIS.com, 8/12).
DOING ITS JOB: In N.Y., Ben Rothenburg notes Andy Murray, who "played his first hardcourt match in more than a year" at the ATP/WTA Citi Open earlier this month, was "overwhelmingly positive" about the shot clock. He "estimated that the addition of the clock could have shaved more than 20 minutes off his grueling 2-hour-37-minute match against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round." That assessment would "please the U.S. Open, as quickening matches was the stated goal of the clock initiative." The clock will "not be used at tournaments after the U.S. Open, but tennis officials are considering it" for the '19 season (N.Y. TIMES, 8/13).
MAKING A COMEBACK: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Tom Perrotta cited Tennis Industry Association data showing that despite an "overall 6% decline in total tennis participation" from '10-17, there are "signs of renewed interest among certain subgroups." For example, the number of people who "play for cardio health" grew by 4.5% last year. Meanwhile, overall youth play "increased nearly 1%, and 7.6% among children ages 6 to 12." USTA CMO Amy Choyne said that the organization's "new youth-oriented approach -- which it calls Net Generation -- is working and can make tennis more popular for all ages" (WSJ.com, 8/12).
