Tennishead Article – Shorter Formats – FAST4 or Thirty30 Tennis
Updated: Nov 26, 2019
An article, “A new tennis order is finally taking shape” on the Tennishead.net website discusses shorter formats.
The following is an excerpt:
“Tennis has to recognise that we live in a shifting world where the public’s tastes are changing.”
“Cricket provides a fine example of that. Around the world Test cricket has been struggling for years – Britain is just about the last country where there is a healthy appetite for five-day matches – but Twenty20, in which matches last just three hours, has reignited interest in the sport. In Australia, for instance, the wonderfully named Big Bash League plays to huge crowds.”
“It would clearly be wrong to suggest that the Grand Slams – the tennis equivalent of Test matches – are similarly struggling. Indeed, they have become bigger than ever in recent years. However, no sport should rest on its laurels and you sense that if tennis wants to draw in younger fans it needs to appeal to spectators who want more instant gratification.”
“Tennis is moving towards shorter matches, albeit slowly. It has its own versions of Twenty20, most notably the FAST4 formula championed by Tennis Australia, and the ATP is to be commended for the experimental short format used at the annual Next Gen Finals in Milan. Match tie-breaks have replaced third sets in doubles matches on the men’s and women’s tours.”
“Those are all progressive steps.”
To read the full article, click here.
Thirty30 tennis comment
Thirty30 tennis is an alternative to FAST4 and match tie-breaks – Have You Tried It Yet?
Unlike FAST4 and MTBs, Thirty30 tennis retains sets to 6 games (lead by 2), a TB is still played at 6 games all and the Deuce / Ad points are still played.
Thirty30 matches still feel, look and sound like traditional tennis!
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