Carlos Alcaraz plans ATP talks over ‘new’ shot-clock rule after defeat at Queen’s
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Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during his round-of-16 match against Britain's Jack Draper at Queen's.
REUTERS
LONDON – World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz said he would speak to the ATP about a “new” shot-clock rule being trialled by the governing body, after feeling rushed during his defeat by Jack Draper at the Queen’s Club Championships.
The Spaniard’s preparations for his Wimbledon title defence suffered a setback on June 20 with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 loss to his British opponent in the last 16.
The 25-second shot clock was previously started only when the chair umpire called the score, but the tweak to the rule in the trial means that the countdown to a serve begins almost immediately after a point is concluded.
The new regulation, aimed at streamlining game flow and ensuring consistent time management, has been on trial since the French Open concluded and a source said it will continue at ATP tournaments until the end of the season.
Alcaraz said he had no time to go through his regular routine during the match and that he had expressed his concerns to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani.
“He told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is put on,” the Roland Garros champion added.
“I think for the players, it’s something bad. I finish the point at the net and I had no time to ask for balls. I’m not saying to go to a towel and take my time. I feel like I can’t ask for the balls.
“It’s crazy. I have time just to ask for two balls and no bounces. I’ve never seen something like that in tennis.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion added: “If you play a long point or finish at the net, you have time just to go for a towel or ask for your routine, ask for, in my case, four balls.
“I’m concentrating on the next point, just bouncing my bounces and serving as best as I can. Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine.”
The ATP source said umpires would still have the ability to pause the shot clocks in the event of disruptions beyond player or tournament control.
Alcaraz was also asked if he had spoken to the governing body. “Not yet, but I will, for sure,” said the Spaniard, who will now head to Wimbledon, which begins in July.
In other ATP Tour action, Alexander Zverev – who lost to Alcaraz in the French Open final – reached the semi-finals of the Halle Open on June 21. He beat Arthur Fils 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 to book a meeting with Hubert Hurkacz.
On the women’s tour, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Berlin WTA tournament while trailing to Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals on June 21. Two-time Australian Open winner Azarenka will next face Aryna Sabalenka or Anna Kalinskaya.
Rybakina, the third seed, was 1-3 down and visibly struggling in the first set before pulling up at 15-all on her serve.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion also withdrew from Rome in May citing illness, just before the French Open. REUTERS, AFP
