Next Gen ATP Finals announces bold new format

The inaugural November event features short sets, no lets and muc

Published May 18, 2017

Understandably, whenever there is change in tennis, there are mixed reactions. The Next Gen ATP Finals recently announced a new scoring format and different rules for the inaugural tournament in November. The event will feature the best eight players on tour, ages 21 and under.

The Next Gen ATP Finals committee opted to boost crucial moments and create quicker entertainment. These changes have been tried before (like in World TeamTennis and Fast4 Tennis), but not on this big of a scale.

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#NextGenATP Finals rules/format...

- shorter sets to 4 games
- best of five-set matches
- no AD scoring
- no lets
- shot clock pic.twitter.com/ZLMBCh9QNX
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 16, 2017

🎾Shorter set format designed to increase the number of pivotal moments in a match! #NextGenATP pic.twitter.com/5cOQpbgy6V
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) May 16, 2017

Twitter immediately became a sounding board for some disgruntled fans:

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Next up, whoever wins the coin toss, wins the match.
— Ryan (@RyanEntwistle) May 16, 2017

.@TennisTV
Also:
- end “boring” points immediately
- ump whispers “hurry up” before each serve
- ball kids chased by lions during match https://t.co/X1V0MWTmKt
— Jason Woerner (@jasonwoerner) May 16, 2017

Did anyone hear about how the fans in Madrid asked for their $$ back after the first set of the final lasted 1 hr 17 min?

Yeah, me neither.
— Nick Nemeroff (@NNemeroff) May 16, 2017

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While others were more open minded:

Interesting rule changes. We hope a few of our rising #USTennis stars can try them out in Milan!
— USTA (@usta) May 17, 2017

I'm getting to a point when I think I prefer watching #NextGenATP finals than the actual #ATP World Tour Finals.... 👀👀👀👀👀@nextgenfinals https://t.co/WjfKICb7bK
— Foam A. Lime TNNS (@FoamALime) May 8, 2017

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A lot of people are mad that a new event isn't following old rules…which I don't really understand? It's a separate new recipe in a new pan.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 16, 2017

The players certainly seem on board. Alexander Zverev, the points leader in the Race to Milan, sent out his approval.

We are excited too! 🤗 Get Tickets Now: https://t.co/cNsSFaczTm pic.twitter.com/824Z6ASQ1A
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) May 16, 2017

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I am #nextgenATP -make sure to follow our Race to Milan!!! @nextgenfinals #rolex #nike #head #masimo #milan #nextgen pic.twitter.com/JQb5Asjj4T
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) May 17, 2017

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who is nearly a decade too old to play in the event, told press in Rome that he likes the idea.

“In terms of introducing new things and new rules to the tennis, I think everything is evolving in life and sport does, too," he said. "Tennis has to be open-minded for these kind of new potential changes."

Regardless of where you stand on the format of the Next Gen ATP Finals, it's certainly drumming up plenty of attention.

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