Grand Slam tournaments end the tiebreak chaos

The four Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York have agreed on a uniform rule for the deciding set. They promise a “better experience” for athletes and fans.

Those responsible for the Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York have jointly agreed on a rule change for the deciding set. It will apply from the French Open in Paris (May 22 – June 5).

Accordingly, a tie-break will be played in the fifth set for the men and in the third set for the women when the score is 6:6. Whoever scores ten points first with a lead of at least two points wins.

As the umbrella organization of the tournaments, the Grand Slam Board, announced, there was a “great desire for more uniformity of the rules”. This should make the games a better experience for players and fans.

Introduced for one season only

So far, all four big tournaments have had different rules for the deciding set: At the Australian Open, the procedure has been the same as the new rule now provides. In Wimbledon since 2019, a tie-break (up to seven points) has been played if the decisive set is 12:12. At the French Open there was no tiebreak in the deciding set. And at the US Open, the decision has been made by tie-break (up to seven points) since 1970.

According to the Grand Slam Board, the rule will be introduced on a test basis. After the four tournaments this year, a decision will be made together with the tennis organization for men (ATP), women (WTA) and the world association ITF whether the regulations should be changed permanently.