ATP likely to trial new formats to speed up play in future tours

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Two particular changes about timing are likely to happen in the tennis world facing professional players, as both a shot clock within 25 seconds and a shortened warm-up period are expected to accelerate the playtime, according to an official of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

So far, the Australian Open qualifier took the lead in applying the serving clock in January. The device is scheduled to be operated in the French Open qualifier later this Month and will hit the Grand Slam at the US Open in August.

Spain's Rafael Nadal hits a return to Bosnia Herzegovina's Damir Dzumhur during Rome's ATP Tennis Open tournament at the Foro Italico, on May 16, 2018 in Rome. /VCG Photo

It is good to have changes, Executive Chairman Chris Kermode said during the launch of Next Gen Finals in May. The latest one is to help gather more young talented players.

"When we first started this we never committed to what date we would do any of these, because we needed to take a cautious approach, he added.

"I think we can also look at the medical time outs and the toilet breaks, again to speed up play. I think we can get those done quite quickly as well. When it comes to the scoring of the game, that's getting into the ethos of the sport and that takes much longer because you do need everyone to buy into this," Kermode said.

However, the change is not in the favour of all players. For instance, Rafael Nadal is said to be particularly unsatisfied about the new clock setting.