Tennis has changed recently, and the pandemic has accelerated some of those changes. One of them is the end the practice of ball boys handing out towels to players after each point, something that lengthens that gap because they have to travel more meters until they reach the corner where they are located.
If that is so, After Wimbledon, the ball boys will once again serve towels to the players of the men’s team, as announced by the ATP.
Despite the proposal’s popularity among tennis fans and experts, and concerns about hygiene, ATP withdraws and new procedures begin to apply almost immediately.
According to an ATP source, The reason is the automatic clock, which limits players to 25 seconds between points, from the end of the previous point.
They said, go back to the ball boys handing out towels to the players will help “keep up the pace of play.”
Testing the automated shot clock, as opposed to the chair umpire starting a stopwatch when the score is announced, began in the events following the French Open.
Carlos Alcaraz complained last month at the Queen’s Club tournament that he was rushed between points and couldn’t follow his routine.
“It’s crazy. I only have time to ask for two balls and not dribble. I’ve never seen anything like this in tennis“said the Spaniard at the time, who assured that he would talk to the ATP.
Source: La Verdad
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