Isner wants the new tiebreak rule named after him.GETTY IMAGES
Long matches at Wimbledon are "a thing of the past" after the All England Club "sensibly decided to introduce" a tiebreak at 12-12 in the deciding set across all events at next year’s championships, according to Stuart Fraser of the LONDON TIMES. In light of the "scheduling havoc" created by the semifinal between Kevin Anderson and John Isner this year that lasted six hours and 36 minutes, officials "feel it is best to avoid the prospect of similar scenarios by axing the traditional final advantage set" in which a player must win by two games. The possibility of using the US Open's format of a tiebreak at 6-6, which has been in place since '70, "was among the options discussed." However, it was agreed by the tournament committee, after a review of match data from the past 20 years, that a tiebreak should be contested at 12-12. All England Club Chair Philip Brook said, "In reaching this decision, the committee sought the feedback of both players and officials, analyzed two decades of match data, and considered other factors including scheduling complexities and spectator experience." Some players said that they believe Wimbledon "should have gone a step further" and used a tiebreak at 6-6 because there is "little added value in potentially playing an extra 12 games." All England Club CEO Richard Lewis said, "There were mixed views but predominantly players favored the final set tiebreak." One option considered by the committee "was for the advantage set to be retained in finals," but Lewis said that this was "decided against" because "there should be consistency right through the whole event" (LONDON TIMES, 10/20).
FULL SUPPORT: The BBC reported John Isner backed the planned changes and said that the rule "should be named after him." Isner was involved in the longest match in Wimbledon history in '10, beating Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the final set. Isner: "I have said all along 12-all is good." He thinks "the other Grand Slam events could follow Wimbledon's lead." Isner said, "It may be that Wimbledon acting like this could drive them to do it as well. There is drama enough in a tiebreaker. You could argue there is more drama in that. ... The next match that gets to that, they should just say, 'We will now play the Isner Rule.' I don't think they are going to do that, but I think I've been a big driving force for it" (BBC, 10/21).
