End of an error as Wimbledon brings in a final set tiebreak
Determined to be different, the new rule comes into effect only when the players are at 12-12 in the fifth set
London - Wimbledon will introduce a final set tiebreak starting from next year’s championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), organisers said on Friday. After a period of consultation with players and officials, the AELTC ruled that the tiebreak will be played when the score reaches 12-12 in the final set of all matches at the tournament, singles and doubles. The move comes after this year’s semi-final between American John Isner and SA’s Kevin Anderson in which the final set alone, won 26-24 by Anderson, lasted almost three hours. “Our view was that the time had come to introduce a tiebreak method for matches that had not reached their natural conclusion at a reasonable point during the deciding set,” AELTC chair Philip Brook said in a statement. “While we know the instances of matches extending deep into the final set are rare, we feel that a tiebreak at 12-12 strikes an equitable balance between allowing players ample opportunity to complete the match to advantage, ...
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