Sports · Tennis · 10 hrs ago
De Minaur backs serve-clock change and proposes a one-toss rule
Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur has backed adding a shot clock between a player’s first and second serves.
He also proposed that players must serve after tossing the ball once, or be given a fault.
De Minaur said these changes could stop players from taking extra time or restarting their serving routine after a poor toss.
The suggestions come after criticism of the time Alexander Zverev took before serving at the US Open.
De Minaur made the comments after beating Rei Sakamoto to reach the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters.
He is due to play Karen Khachanov next, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The proposed rules are ideas from De Minaur; the source does not say that tennis officials have adopted them.
Alex de Minaur backed the idea of a serve clock between first and second serves.
He also proposed requiring players to serve after one ball toss, with a failed toss counting as a fault.
De Minaur said the changes could stop players from taking extra time or restarting their serving routine.
The proposal could affect players including Alexander Zverev, who faced criticism over his serve preparation at the US Open.
De Minaur made the comments after beating Rei Sakamoto at the Shanghai Masters.
- Who
- Alex de Minaur proposed the change; it could affect players including Alexander Zverev.
- What
- De Minaur supported a clock between first and second serves and proposed a one-toss rule, with a failed toss counting as a fault.
- When
- After De Minaur’s Shanghai Masters match against Rei Sakamoto.
- Where
- The comments were made in the mixed zone at the Shanghai Masters.
- Why
- De Minaur said the rules could prevent players from taking extra time between serves or restarting their routine after a bad toss.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Between first and second? Yeah, that’s fine,
I think, ultimately, you would get away from people trying to take a little bit more time in between first serve and second.
I’ve said this for a long time now, I think one of the things I would say personally is I would have only one ball toss.
De Minaur retired because of an injury scare, awarding Novak Djokovic the title.
De Minaur beat Rei Sakamoto 7-6(6), 6-4, then discussed possible serving-rule changes.
- First-to-second-serve clock
- De Minaur said he supported the idea.
- Ball toss rule
- De Minaur proposed that players must serve after one toss or be called for a fault.
- Shanghai Masters match
- De Minaur beat Rei Sakamoto 7-6(6), 6-4.
- Potentially affected player
- Alexander Zverev had faced criticism over the time taken before his serves at the US Open.
Sources
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