Ex-ATP players’ chief pitches for shorter matches

NEW YORK: Tennis must consider shortening matches in a bid to engage with a younger fanbase and avoid losing television viewers, according to former ATP Player Council

NEW YORK: Tennis must consider shortening matches in a bid to engage with a younger fanbase and avoid losing television viewers, according to former ATP Player Council president and doubles specialist Eric Butorac.

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The 35-year-old American, who was succeeded by world number one Novak Djokovic as president, said speed of play is high on the agenda for the new board, which also includes two-time reigning Olympic champion Andy Murray of Britain.

“It’s too slow,” Butorac, who finished his two-year term as president last month, told Reuters at the U.S. Open. “I said to Andy, I would rather you and Novak play for two hours rather than four.

“I said to Andy, I think we could play two out of three sets here (instead of best of five, as played at the four grand slams).

“And Andy said: ‘well, is it better to play two out of three or to play fewer games in a set?’ That’s not a terrible idea.”