Craig Tiley, the director of the Australian Open tournament, expresses concern about the fate of doubles in the world of professional tennis. He fears that the sport’s continuous evolution to attract new and evolving audiences may have a negative impact on doubles.
The ATP is conducting a review of the doubles aspect of the sport, and the results will influence broader changes in the professional tours and the four grand slams. A source familiar with the review, who wished to remain anonymous, informed the Guardian that doubles “may not have a strong future, especially in its current form.”
Tiley stated that he supports doubles, but currently there is a lack of ranking points, prize money, and overall significance for players in the doubles category.
“I believe we may have deviated from our intended path, we are not being meaningful enough,” stated Tiley. “We must ensure that we make the right choices and not waste time spinning our wheels, but instead take action.”
The first major tennis tournament of the year ended on Sunday evening with an exciting match for the men’s singles title between Russian player Daniil Medvedev and Italian player Jannik Sinner. Sinner emerged as the victor after a five-set showdown.
In recent years, the tournament has made changes to attract new viewers. These changes include allowing easier access to and from seats during matches, a bar located courtside, and on-site entertainment to enhance the tennis experience.
However, the finals for both doubles matches faced challenges in drawing in crowds. The number of spectators for the men’s doubles final between Australian Matt Ebden and 43-year-old Rohann Bopanna was significantly lower compared to the women’s singles final, which took place beforehand on Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena.
The attendance at a music concert on Sunday afternoon at John Cain Arena far exceeded the small number of people who showed up for the women’s doubles final taking place at the same time.
Ebden, a part of the ATP Player Advisory Council, has shifted to primarily playing doubles in the last three years. He expressed that the ATP has not given much attention to doubles after winning his second men’s doubles grand slam title.
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He stated that he played a role in initiating the review in order to determine the true purpose of doubles – its relevance, reason for existing, value, and potential drawbacks.
Instead of dwelling on perceived shortcomings, Ebden stated that doubles had its own distinct possibilities.
He suggested making room for spectators to be more involved in doubles tennis, such as being closer to the court and potentially incorporating music. He also proposed eliminating breaks between ends to maintain a continuous and interactive game.
In 2024, the Australian Open achieved a record attendance of over one million attendees during the two-week event.
According to Tiley, the tournament successfully achieved a balance between the interests of fans and players, even though there were some objections to the modifications.
“I adopt a leadership mindset where I prioritize seeking forgiveness over asking for permission, as this allows for greater efficiency and agility,” he asserted. “The sport as a whole should also adopt this mindset and implement strategies that promote rapid progress.”
Tiley proposed getting rid of the “let” rule, which occurs when a serve hits the top of the net but still lands in play, resetting the point. He noted that this rule caused delays during the two-week event, totaling more than 15 hours.
The Australian Open did not receive any extra income this year from broadcasting or major sponsors, despite beginning a day earlier. The 15-day schedule will be considered in future agreements, and the additional content was given to current partners as a gesture of goodwill.
A report that was widely circulated before the tournament mentioned Tiley as a pivotal player in opposing a major overhaul of the professional tour that may have included a stop in Saudi Arabia just before the Australian Open.
He stated on Monday that scheduled meetings were still ongoing and that the grand slams shared the same mindset. However, he refuted the idea that he was the main leader, emphasizing that it was a group effort.
Source: theguardian.com
