Tennis bosses to trial 15-second shot clock in Madrid doubles tournament

Tennis bosses are set to shake up the sport once again with the introduction of a 15-second shot clock trial at the Madrid doubles tournament in an effort to reduce “dead time” in matches.

The ATP Council is expected to approve a series of trial rule changes this week, with doubles players in Madrid being given just 15 seconds to start the next point if the previous rally lasted three shots or fewer. Longer rallies will still trigger the existing 25-second shot clock.

This trial follows the success of the 15-second shot clock used at the Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia last year, where young players and new innovations are put to the test. The move comes as men’s singles matches have increased in length by more than 25% over the last two decades, impacting broadcasters and fans alike.

In addition to the shot clock trial, doubles players in Madrid will not be allowed a “sit-down” during the first set of the match, with a limited amount of time given to switch ends and start the next game. A longer break after the first set has also been proposed to compensate for this change.

The proposed trial also includes changes to the entry system, with more singles players potentially playing doubles matches later in the tournament. Scheduling issues have also been addressed, with the start of Madrid’s doubles draw pushed back to the second Tuesday of the event.

The changes come in response to concerns raised by US broadcaster ESPN, who explained why they do not show doubles matches. The trial entry system aims to prevent singles players from entering doubles draws and then withdrawing without playing, while also saving doubles from being overlooked in tennis’s evolving landscape.

As the sport continues to evolve, doubles players are wary of the impact these changes may have on their place in the game. With radical proposals on the table that could reshape the sport and its calendar, the future of doubles tennis hangs in the balance as the sport looks to adapt to the changing times.