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The ATP recently announced a trial of a new doubles format across the 2024 ATP Tour season with the goal of enhancing the product for fans, players and tournaments. The first tournament participating in the trial is the Mutua Madrid Open.
ATP Player Advisory Council member Wesley Koolhof said: “It will be a bit more lively. It will be nicer to watch, more entertaining. That's what we're trying to produce, to entertain the crowd a bit more and to attract the crowd.”
One of the format changes for the event is an adjustment to the schedule. The doubles draw will be contested from Tuesday, 30 April through Saturday, 4 May, in the second week of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, with the draw to be made on Monday, 29 April.
ATPTour.com takes a look at the other innovations that will be trialed at the Caja Magica.
More Singles Versus Doubles Action
There will be 32 teams in the draw. Sixteen teams were initially accepted based on their combined PIF ATP Doubles Ranking as advanced doubles-only entries.
There will also be 13 singles entries consisting of only singles players or a Top 10 singles player with a Top 50 doubles player. Six such teams have already been accepted as advanced entries. Seven more singles teams will be entered through on-site sign-in Sunday. The remaining three teams will be wild cards issued by the tournament.
Each doubles-only team will be placed in the draw according to their combined ranking. The singles-entry teams and wild card teams will then be placed in the draw, creating an unprecedented number of matchups between the world’s top doubles and singles players. This will add compelling new narratives for fans.
Koolhof said of more singles versus doubles action: “The [singles players] obviously are incredibly good tennis players, so they will find a way to try to rally with us and beat the net guy. If we are playing against singles guys the rallies will be a bit longer, more spectacular, more entertaining. So hopefully this trial will work.”
Reduced Shot Clock
Players will have 15 seconds following points with up to 3 shots and 25 seconds after points that last four or more shots. Currently players are allowed 25 seconds after every point.
This change is meant to accelerate the pace of play and minimise downtime, creating a more exciting product for fans.
Quicker Changeovers
There will be no drink or sit-down break at the first changeover of each set. The changeover time during sets will be 60 seconds from the end of the game and 90 seconds between the sets. Players will only be allowed to sit down on set breaks. This will help accelerate the pace of play.
Free Fan Movement
Fans will be allowed to move around as they please, except for behind the baseline. This will enhance the on-site experience for fans, allowing them to not miss any action by moving as they desire to enjoy more of the tennis and tournament experience around the grounds.
More Fast Facts:
- These changes being trialed come off the back of an extensive review into the doubles game with input from a Doubles Working Group (established in 2023), which includes Player Advisory Council members, a Player Board Representative, an ATP tournament director and ATP staff members. Others consulted include fans and broadcasters.
- The trial will not affect prize money or PIF ATP Doubles Rankings points awarded to players in the doubles draw.
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