Australian Open 2018: Mid-match first round retirements in the gun

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This was published 6 years ago

Australian Open 2018: Mid-match first round retirements in the gun

By Scott Spits
Updated

Tennis officials have moved to target controversial mid-match first-round withdrawals at the grand slams.

With lucrative prizemoney on offer to those who exit at the first stage in the majors, the sport has been beset by injured players choosing to take their spot in the draw before pulling out. Under changes endorsed by the Grand Slam Board in London this week, unfit players will still be eligible to receive 50 per cent of the first-round prizemoney if they withdraw on-site after midday on the Thursday before the tournament. The "lucky loser" who takes their spot will be able to collect the remaining 50 per cent.

Nicolas Almagro was paid $50,000 for four games at this year's Australian Open.

Nicolas Almagro was paid $50,000 for four games at this year's Australian Open.Credit: AP

In one case at January's Australian Open, former world No. 9 Nicolas Almagro collected $50,000 for playing four games of tennis, which lasted 23 minutes. At the time the Spaniard denied he had entered his first-round match believing he wasn't fully fit, despite admitting a scan taken the previous week confirmed he had injured his calf.

The crackdown is designed to ensure spectators aren't left disappointed by drastically shortened matches.

Players will also be on notice for tardiness at January's Australian Open with heavy fines in order for breaches of pre-match warm-up restrictions and a more strictly enforced serve shot clock.

The grand slams have previously allowed 20 seconds between points, the time permitted to serve will be increased to 25 seconds in line with a trial in US Open qualifying, junior and wheelchair matches this year and at the ATP Next Gen Finals. The key change will be an on-court "countdown clock" but the Australian Open is yet to confirm whether this will happen with all of their draws in 2018.

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"It was unanimously agreed to support 2018 Australian Open's application to the ITF (International Tennis Federation) for a waiver of the 20 seconds between points required by the rules of tennis, in order to allow for enforcement of a strict 25 seconds utilizing a 'serve/shot clock' system in line with that trialed at the 2017 US Open," the Grand Slam Board said in a statement.

The length of the warm-ups will also be strictly controlled, limiting them to five minutes, and players must be ready to play one minute later. Players also have one minute after walking on to be ready for their on-court meeting with their opponent. Any breaches of these restrictions could result in a fine of up to $20,000.

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