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| Such an expert that I now call it a "racquet" instead of a netty-stick. |
1. Reduce the length of men's tennis
There is some criticism in tennis of the women getting equally paid for less work than the men. I think that view of the pay issue is a little simplistic, but regardless, the work hours are an issue.
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| Women - can run a marathon, can't play five sets of tennis. FACT! |
However, whereas most people seem to advocate that women should play five sets like the men, I think the men should play three sets like the women.
This is consistent with how men play tennis outside the Grand Slams. It seems strange to go from three to five sets at just four tournaments per year, only because they are more important events.
For example, we don't extend soccer games to three halves (thirds?) at the World Cup because the stage is bigger.
Three sets would also increase the attention on tennis skills rather than fitness and attrition. It would reduce the bias in the draw, where Player A can back-up for his next round fixture after an easy 90 minute straights sets victory, while his opponent Player B had to endure a four hour marathon that finished 11-9 in the deciding set.
Maybe there would be less drama, but maybe the drama would just be different?
2. Be consistent about the ball hitting the net
Why does hitting the net (confusingly called 'let') on a serve not count, but it does count during the rest of the point? I say be consistent.
And tennis players should stop phony apologising when they do hit the net cord.
2b. No mercy on faults
I literally just thought of this when writing about removing let serves, so it's the hottest possible take...
Three words: Single. Fault. Tennis.
Do you know what people like about tennis? The ball being hit backwards and forwards across the net a lot of times consecutively.
Fast serves absolutely ruin this. But given no second serve, players would slow down the service speed significantly due to risk factor. And then an ace or unreturnable serve becomes a highlight play of incredible daring!
3. Rock music entrancesThis is consistent with how men play tennis outside the Grand Slams. It seems strange to go from three to five sets at just four tournaments per year, only because they are more important events.
For example, we don't extend soccer games to three halves (thirds?) at the World Cup because the stage is bigger.
Three sets would also increase the attention on tennis skills rather than fitness and attrition. It would reduce the bias in the draw, where Player A can back-up for his next round fixture after an easy 90 minute straights sets victory, while his opponent Player B had to endure a four hour marathon that finished 11-9 in the deciding set.
Maybe there would be less drama, but maybe the drama would just be different?
2. Be consistent about the ball hitting the net
Why does hitting the net (confusingly called 'let') on a serve not count, but it does count during the rest of the point? I say be consistent.
And tennis players should stop phony apologising when they do hit the net cord.
2b. No mercy on faults
I literally just thought of this when writing about removing let serves, so it's the hottest possible take...
Three words: Single. Fault. Tennis.
Do you know what people like about tennis? The ball being hit backwards and forwards across the net a lot of times consecutively.
Fast serves absolutely ruin this. But given no second serve, players would slow down the service speed significantly due to risk factor. And then an ace or unreturnable serve becomes a highlight play of incredible daring!
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| Federer doing this would be "Money". That's a quality pun, just for the certified boxing experts out there. |
Tennis is currently upper-middle class and therefore hopelessly out-of-touch with pretty much everyone.
Would music entrances like boxing prizefighters (or darts players!) not increase the theatre? What about playing some tunes at changes of ends like Twenty20 cricket?
Sport is entertainment and business as well as sport.
4. Doubles tennis is rubbish
Does anyone really believe all these "doubles specialists" are actually the best players in the world at double tennis?
If the best players won't play doubles, it has no merit outside of social comp tennis.
And finally, my most controversial hot take...
5a. Nick Kyrgios is OK
He's essentially living the Australian dream: half-arsing a really high-paying job.
5b. Nick Kyrgios is OK
Alternative hot take: it could be worse, at least he isn't Bernard Tomic.
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