Tennis Stars Confused by New Rule
In a never-before-seen blunder on the tennis court, baffled tennis stars were forced to change ends mid-game, leaving everyone, including the umpire, confused. The incident occurred during the opening match of tennis’ ATP Next Gen Finals in Jeddah.
The No1 Seed Prevails
Despite the confusion, Frenchman Arthur Fils, the No1 seed, managed to prevail over Italian Luca Nardi in a thrilling match. The match ended with a score of 2-4, 4-3, 4-2, 1-4, 4-2, with the shorter sets being one of the initiatives implemented by the ATP for the end-of-season tournament for the best 21-and-under male players.
Confusion at the Beginning of the Second Set
The confusion arose at the beginning of the second set when Fils, having lost the opener, was on track to secure a routine hold. However, before serving at 40-0, he was interrupted by chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani, who instructed the players to swap ends. The players, still unsure of the new rule, questioned the decision.
New Rules for Changeovers
One of the new rules implemented for the Next Gen Finals is that there are no changeovers after the first game of the set. This led to the confusion on the court. The umpire clarified that the players should have changed ends at the end of the 4-2 opening set and then stayed put for the first three games of the second set.
Twitter Reacts to the Incident
Fans took to Twitter to share their views on the strange incident. Some sympathized with the umpire, while others criticized the confusion and lack of respect shown towards the players.
Overall, this incident serves as a reminder that even in a competitive sport like tennis, unexpected blunders can occur, leaving everyone a little bewildered.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/tennis/maria-sharapova-unveils-her-post-flight-routine-and-new-haircut-in-abu-dhabi/
