By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Alexander Zverev had one of the strangest reactions ever to winning a major singles title.

Just as he clinched the final point of his 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 final-round U.S. Open win over Ben Shelton, Zverev did…. Nothing. He casually took a ball out of his pocket and hit it to the other side of the net and casually walked over to the corner of the court where his father, brother and team were sitting.

It wasn’t until his brother Mischa crossed his arms to him, signifying the match was “finished” that he understood that he was the U.S. Open champion.

“I thought it was 5-1,” said Zverev in his post-match press conference of him mistaking the score. “I knew I broke him twice, but I thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2, which helped me in a way, because I didn’t really get nervous serving out the match. I just miscounted the score, I guess.”

The fact that Zverev did not know the score is a credit to his concentration and not playing the score, but being absorbed in the process of winning and not the final result. Even more to his credit that he didn’t see all the video boards that surround the court that brilliantly display “Match Point” when a match comes to that point.”

”In that moment I was in the zone a lot,” he said. “I didn’t hear noise at all. I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn’t hear anything. Then also, of course, when the crowd is loud, it’s impossible to hear the umpire, so I didn’t hear that she said, Game, Set, Match. But, yeah, at the end of the day, I think I just forgot the score. It’s not much else to say. I just thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2.”

The post Alexander Zverev Explains His Delayed Reaction When He Won The U.S. Open appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

BY JAMES BECK

CHARLESTON, S.C. – – Alexander Zverev is the best men’s tennis player in the world these days.

Ben Shelton put up a good fight, but he really wasn’t in Zverev’s league on Sunday.

And this may have been a different U.S. Open with a healthier Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who had practically owned the game in recent years before sitting out much of 2026. I’m sure career Grand Slammer Alcaraz will be in better shape in 2027 than when he returned to his game at this U.S. Open, only to suffer a loss in the quarterfinals to Shelton.

But now the 29-year-old Zverev is holding a pair of Grand Slam tournament titles, and he likely will win others. Instead of being held back by the games of Alcaraz and Sinner, Zverev will be one of the players to beat everywhere he goes.

Zverev is a lucky guy, especially so in adding this tournament’s winner $5.5 million check to his $40 million treasure chest.

In the process of winning French and U.S. Open Grand Slam events, Zverev is now a player to be reckoned with. The guy just may be as good as Alcaraz and Sinner.

Other titles may be waiting for the 6-6 star who became the first German to win the U.S. Open in 37 years. He has the biggest and best serve in the game, as well as some of the biggest strokes.  Yes, that’s the amazing Zverev. He’s tough, but humble.

On Sunday before a packed house at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Zverev proved himself again. He did drop that third set, but came right back to dominate Shelton who had too many flaws in his game to prevent  Zverev from notching a 6-3,  7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 victory.

The muscular 6-4 Shelton seemed to be everywhere with his mobility, power and leaping ability. But on this 13^th day, the 23-year-old was no true match for the very lucky and talented Alexander Zverev.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award  for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

The post Alexander Zverev Proves Himself All Over Again In The U.S. Open Final appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Alexander Zverev has finally conquered the U.S. Open.

The German star captured his first U.S. Open championship — and the second Grand Slam title of his career — Sunday night, defeating American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 in the championship match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. (Reuters)

For Zverev, the victory completed a remarkable transformation at the tournament where he had once come painfully close to winning it all.

Six years after blowing a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final, Zverev finally got his hands on the championship trophy in New York.

And he did it against an American who was attempting to accomplish something even more historic.

Shelton was trying to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003. He also was attempting to become the first Black American man to win a major singles championship since Arthur Ashe at Wimbledon in 1975. (AP News)

Instead, the 23-year-old Shelton’s extraordinary run ended one match short.

Zverev Takes Control Early

The No. 1 seed immediately established control, breaking Shelton’s serve and taking the opening set 6-3.

Zverev’s combination of power, consistency and first-strike tennis prevented Shelton from finding the freedom that had carried him through the tournament. The German repeatedly pressured Shelton’s serve while refusing to give away easy points.

The second set became the critical turning point.

Shelton pushed Zverev into a tiebreak, but Zverev produced his best tennis of the match when it mattered most, racing through the tiebreak 7-2 to take a commanding two-sets-to-love lead.

But Shelton wasn’t finished.

Shelton Refuses to Go Quietly

With the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd firmly behind him, Shelton battled back in the third set.

The American’s explosive serve and aggressive forehand began producing the kind of points that had made his run to the final so spectacular. Shelton captured the third set 7-5, forcing Zverev to play another set with the championship hanging in the balance.

For a moment, the momentum appeared to be shifting.

But Zverev quickly slammed the door.

He regained control in the fourth set, breaking Shelton early and refusing to allow the American to turn the match into another marathon. Zverev closed out the championship 6-2, raising his arms as the realization finally settled in: he was a U.S. Open champion.

The final statistics reflected Zverev’s control. He hit nine aces and 35 winners while winning an impressive 85 percent of points behind his first serve. (The Guardian)

From Heartbreak to Champion

The significance of this title goes far beyond one victory.

Zverev had already broken through at Roland Garros earlier this year, winning his first major championship. Now he has added the U.S. Open, giving him two Grand Slam titles in 2026 and establishing himself as one of the defining players of the season. (Olympics)

The U.S. Open triumph also represents redemption.

In 2020, Zverev was two sets away from the title before Thiem rallied to win the championship. That defeat became one of the most painful moments of his career.

Six years later, Zverev returned to the same stage and finished the job.

Shelton’s Historic Run Comes Up Short

For Shelton, the loss will sting.

But his tournament was still a major statement.

He defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal thriller that ended at 3:33 a.m., the latest finish in U.S. Open history, before defeating Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals to reach his first Grand Slam final. (ATP Tour)

He ultimately couldn’t solve Zverev.

The loss also leaves American men’s tennis waiting another year for its next Grand Slam singles champion. Roddick remains the last American man to win a major, with his 2003 U.S. Open championship now more than two decades in the past. (AP News)

But Shelton’s run suggested that the wait may not last forever.

On this night, however, New York belonged to Alexander Zverev.

The German arrived at the U.S. Open as a major champion still searching for another breakthrough.

He leaves Flushing Meadows as a two-time Grand Slam champion and U.S. Open champion.

And after years of heartbreak on the biggest stages, Zverev finally gets to call himself a champion in New York.

The post Alexander Zverev Finally Conquers New York, Defeats Ben Shelton to Win U.S. Open appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

BY JAMES BECK

CHARLESTON, S.C. – – The real Aryna Sabalenka wasn’t there Saturday in tennis’ U.S. Open women’s final. She only showed up for the second set.

Otherwise, Elena Rybakina was in total control of her third Grand Slam title. The slender 6-0 Russian kept Sabalenka guessing with her consistently strong, well-placed serves and brilliant shot-making. Sabalenka couldn’t keep up, and went down to a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 loss to Rybakina.

With Sabalenka’s guesses went the Belarusian’s hopes for a third straight U.S. Open title. She charged forward even with Rybakina’s shots coming straight at her and forcing errors. Sabalenka never seemed to figure out how to handle Rybakina’s game, except in the second set that went Sabalenka’s way.

The third set was all Rybakina as she yielded only three points against her serve, while Sabalenka struggled with her own serve in long games, especially in the third and seventh games where she suffered service breaks.

Rybakina did little wrong as she moved one step closer to a career Grand Slam. She has a win everywhere now, except the French Open’s red clay. She won the grassy Wimbledon in 2022 and the hard courts of the Australian Open earlier this year.

After Saturday’s success, you might say the 25-year-old Rybakina had a great 2026 with a pair of  hard court Grand Slam titles and a world’s No. 1 ranking on Monday morning.

Rybakina repeatedly hit her spot on serves and forehands and backhands that Sabalenka couldn’t get to or couldn’t handle.

It appeared to be the new face of the powerful 6-0, 28-year-old Sabalenka, who still owns four hard-court Grand Slam titles, two in New York and two in Australia.

It just wasn’t Sabalenka’s day on a day Rybakina owned.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award  for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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The American Harrison and British partner Skupski captured the 2026 U.S. Open men’s doubles title Saturday, defeating Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6(6) in the final.

For Harrison and Skupski, the victory is their second Grand Slam championship of 2026, following their Australian Open triumph in January. Remarkably, the U.S. Open title comes in their first season together as a regular team.

And they did it without dropping a set in New York.

The fifth-seeded duo was especially impressive in the final against the sixth-seeded Germans. Harrison and Skupski secured the only break of the opening set and then survived a tense second-set tiebreak to close out the championship.

Skupski provided the finishing touch, with a crucial volley helping the pair secure the championship point.

The victory also carried special significance for both players.

For Harrison, it represents another remarkable chapter in a career that has been defined by perseverance. The American has endured eight surgeries and years of injuries, making his emergence as a two-time Grand Slam champion in 2026 one of the year’s most compelling comeback stories.

“It has been a great year,” Harrison said afterward. “To get two titles like this, I’m speechless — and to do it at home.”

For Skupski, the championship was particularly sweet.

The 36-year-old had twice finished runner-up in the U.S. Open — with Wesley Koolhof in 2022 and Joe Salisbury in 2025. Last year, Skupski and Salisbury had even held match points in the final before falling short.

This time, there would be no heartbreak.

“I’m still in shock,” Skupski said. “Losing twice and having match points last year was a tough part of my career, but it’s amazing what a year does in tennis.”

The title also puts Harrison and Skupski in an exclusive piece of tennis history.

They became only the sixth men’s doubles team in the Open Era to win both the Australian Open and U.S. Open in the same year, according to the LTA.

Another source notes that they are only the third team this century to accomplish the Australian-U.S. Open double, joining Bob and Mike Bryan and Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares.

Their partnership has been almost instantly successful. The two had first played together back in 2013, but when they reunited as a team in 2026, the chemistry was immediate. They won the Australian Open in just their second tournament together and have now added the U.S. Open crown.

Their run through Flushing Meadows included a statement semifinal victory over the world’s No. 1 team, Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, 7-6(4), 6-2. They carried that momentum into the final and never surrendered a set during the tournament.

For Krawietz and Puetz, it was another frustrating U.S. Open final. The Germans had also reached the championship match in 2024, but again came away without the trophy.

For Harrison and Skupski, however, New York became the perfect ending to an extraordinary Grand Slam season.

Australian Open champions. U.S. Open champions. Two majors in their first season together.

And for Harrison, a journey marked by injuries and setbacks has now led to something far more enduring — a place among the elite champions of men’s doubles.

The American-British partnership has officially arrived.

The post Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski Capture U.S. Open Men’s Doubles Title appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Ben Shelton has done something that hasn’t been done before since Arthur Ashe.

His father Bryan already has that distinction.

As Ben Shelton is the first black American man to reach the U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, you can look back at an accomplishment his father Bryan completed in 1991 that was also something not done since Ashe.

Back on July 14, 1991, as documented in my book “On This Day In Tennis History” (for sale and download here On This Day in Tennis History: A Day-by-Day Anthology of Anecdotes and Historical Happenings: Walker, Randy: 9780942257427: Amazon.com: Books) Shelton won his first ATP singles title at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I. on the grass courts of the Newport Casino in Newport, R.I. The win gave him the distinction of being the first black man to win an ATP Tour singles title since Arthur Ashe won the title in Los Angeles in 1978. The description of Papa Shelton’s achievement is see below, as excerpted from the book.

1991 – Bryan Shelton, a former All-American from Georgia Tech University ranked No. 147, becomes the first African-American man to win a singles tournament since Arthur Ashe won in Los Angeles in 1978, defeating Argentina’s Javier Frana 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, R.I. Says Shelton, “It’s exciting and it’s an achievement I’m proud of.”

Shelton returned to Newport the following year and won the title again. The Newport titles were the only two titles that the older Shelton would win in his career.

While Shelton is the first black man since Ashe to reach the U.S. Open final, he will look to become the first black American man to win a major title and the U.S. Open since Ashe at Wimbledon in 1975 and Ashe again at the U.S. Open in 1968. The last black American to reach a major singles final came 30 years ago when MaliVai Washington reached the singles final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Richard Krajicek.

The post Ben Shelton’s Dad Bryan Also Did Something In Tennis Not Done Since Arthur Ashe appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

Elena Rybakina has conquered New York.

The No. 2 seed from Kazakhstan defeated defending champion and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 Saturday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium to win the 2026 U.S. Open women’s singles championship and claim the third Grand Slam title of her career. 

It was a victory that simultaneously ended Sabalenka’s reign in New York and began a new chapter in Rybakina’s career.

A New Queen of New York

Rybakina entered the final knowing exactly what she was up against. Sabalenka had won the previous two U.S. Open titles and had built an extraordinary winning streak at Flushing Meadows.

But Rybakina never seemed intimidated by the moment.

The 27-year-old played the aggressive, first-strike tennis that has made her one of the most dangerous players in the world. Her serve repeatedly put Sabalenka under pressure, while her ability to absorb Sabalenka’s tremendous pace and redirect it proved decisive.

Rybakina took the opening set 6-4 and appeared to be on her way to a relatively straightforward victory.

Sabalenka, however, wasn’t finished.

The defending champion raised her level in the second set, producing the kind of powerful tennis that had carried her through the tournament. She eventually leveled the final at one set apiece by taking the second set 7-5.

That set the stage for a deciding-set showdown between two of the biggest hitters in women’s tennis.

Rybakina Takes Control

The third set belonged to Rybakina.

Rather than allowing Sabalenka’s comeback to change the complexion of the match, Rybakina regained control with her serve and devastating groundstrokes. She kept the pressure on Sabalenka and pulled away to win the deciding set 6-2.

When Sabalenka’s final shot sailed away, Rybakina had her first U.S. Open championship.

The victory was particularly impressive considering the physical uncertainty surrounding Rybakina entering the tournament. She had suffered an ankle injury in Cincinnati and faced questions about whether she would even be able to compete at full strength in New York. 

Instead, she produced one of the finest runs of her career.

From Wimbledon to Melbourne to New York

Rybakina’s victory gives her three Grand Slam singles championships.

She first broke through at Wimbledon in 2022 before adding the Australian Open title earlier this year. Now she has added the U.S. Open, leaving only Roland Garros between her and a career Grand Slam. 

Even more remarkable is the fact that two of those three 2026 major victories have come against Sabalenka.

Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final earlier this year, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and has now beaten her again on another of the sport’s biggest stages. 

Their rivalry has rapidly become one of the defining matchups in women’s tennis.

The No. 1 Ranking Changes Hands

The championship also carries enormous significance for the rankings.

Rybakina will become the world No. 1, ending Sabalenka’s remarkable 99-week reign at the top of women’s tennis. She also becomes the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach No. 1 in the women’s singles rankings. 

For Sabalenka, meanwhile, the defeat ended her extraordinary U.S. Open run. She had won the tournament in both 2024 and 2025 and was attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams and Chris Evert to win three consecutive U.S. Open singles titles. 

Instead, Rybakina stopped her one victory short.

A New Era

There was something fitting about the matchup.

Sabalenka has been the emotional powerhouse of women’s tennis, playing with tremendous intensity and making the U.S. Open her personal territory over the past two years.

Rybakina is almost the opposite—quiet, composed and seemingly unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion.

On Saturday night, that composure won the day.

Elena Rybakina is the 2026 U.S. Open champion.

And after years of knocking on the door at the biggest tournaments in tennis, the “Ice Queen” has now taken her place at the very top of the sport.

New York has a new champion—and women’s tennis has a new world No. 1. 

The post Elena Rybakina Dethrones Aryna Sabalenka to Capture First U.S. Open Crown appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

BY JAMES BECK

CHARLESTON, S.C. – – Karen Knachanov has a solid ATP Tennis background, like three Grand Slam tournament singles semifinals. But when Alexander Zverev decides that none of that matters, the game’s over.

Make no mistake about it, Knachanov knows how to rally a tennis ball. The 30-year-old Russian did everything but win a set against Zverev.

Oh, he came close, but never got closer than 6-4 and 6-5 set points in two tiebreakers. Top seed Zverev always came through when a set was in jeopardy during Friday afternoon’s U.S. Open semifinals where Zverev prevailed, 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6).

On paper, it looks like Zverev will have a much tougher job in close quarters when he takes on giant-killer Ben Shelton in Sunday afternoon’s U.S. Open men’s singles final. As expected, Shelton scored a solid 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory over American Francis Tiafoe in the night semifinals.

No one on the tennis tour runs and jumps more effectively than Shelton. He probably could play both sides of the net, running and jumping from the two sides. And wait until this soon-to-be 24-year-old turns loose on a forehand, a backhand or an overhead. He’s a mighty man at 6-4.

His own brand, things like his books, T-shirts, sportswear and footwear among other things, can be found on the internet. To top it off, he’s left-handed.

No wonder, everyone seems to love Ben.

Of course, Ben eliminated the face of men’s tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, in a five-set quarterfinal that was the latest match ever to finish at the U.S. Open when it ended in a 10-7 tiebreaker with Shelton’s 146 mph bullet of a tennis ball.

Enough about that. It was late enough again on Friday night when Shelton took care of Tiafoe.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award  for print media. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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The future of sports consumption is now mobile-first and high-velocity, no longer to be feared. In the game of professional tennis, a game with fast back-and-forth balls, lots of points, and no end to micro-events, fans are no longer content with being treated to a delayed TV broadcast or passive box score. Today’s audience expects real-time telemetry, point-by-point tracking, and interactive gaming interfaces all within a single mobile viewport.

Ultra-low latency streaming protocols and integrated digital gateways are the driving force behind this evolution. Platform access points such as a Mobile UFAbet entrance (ทางเข้า ufabet มือถือ) highlight the optimized mobile portal’s ability to provide direct access to live event data feeds, dynamic line adjustments, and micro-wagering without interface friction.

Real-Time Infrastructure in Tennis Coverage

The shift from browsing the web on a desktop to on a mobile device demanded a completely new approach to delivering data to those devices. Polling in HTTP could lead to some delay for a few seconds or even more, which could be an issue in a fast-paced sport such as tennis, where a single serve or unforced error could alter the entire match in just a few milliseconds. Currently, the top sporting websites make use of the WebRTC/WebSocket protocol to feed users live point-to-point data in just 200 milliseconds.

[On-Court Hawk-Eye Sensors] ➔ [Data Edge Node] ➔ [WebSocket Engine] ➔ [Mobile App Viewport]

This structural latency reduction allows for dynamic visual overlays, like real-time maps of shot placement, and immediate second-serve speeds. A key factor in digital fan engagement is the ability to access information immediately during live matches of tennis games, as reported by the International Tennis Federation. Court telemetry is received and played immediately by mobile interfaces, making the spectator’s experience far more immersive than traditional broadcast.

Micro-Wagering and Point-by-Point Play

One of the most important reasons for micro-wagering is that tennis is a very structured sport with a broken-down scoring system (points, games, sets). With more than 120 point breaks in a single game, the game of tennis is the perfect sport for granular wagers in the short range.

Algorithmic machine learning models help mobile application developers decide how to change the odds of winning a point between serves.

• Next-point Outcome: Forecasting an ace, double fault, or rally winner before serving.
• Game Break Probability: Calculation of the probability of a game breaking right now based on the first serve percentage of the server.
• Set Score Direction: Dynamic changes based on past break-point conversion statistics.

Global mobile sports market research by Grand View Research shows that in-play micro-markets are a strong catalyst for the growth of mobile sports platforms like UFABETCOM slots (UFABETCOM สล็อต). These “micro-markets,” which open at the moment of each game, allow fans to have a direct investment in every game, making quiet “rallies” into a very interesting and exciting “sports entertainment.”

Replacing Friction with a Mobile Interface

User interface (UI) efficiency is a crucial factor for any sports entertainment platform, directly impacting its technical success. Multi-column sidebars on desktop layouts do not work on mobile viewports; mobile visitors need to access data feeds with ‘collapsible’ functionality and be able to complete transactions with a single tap.

To overcome this structural constraint, mobile entry points use progressive web app (PWA) frameworks. The applications pull the main interface elements to cache them locally, and stream dynamic odds and video data via lightweight JSON channels. The design ensures that the system remains operational even as network coverage wanes in busy stadium settings, allowing the network to function under existing conditions. The system can handle varying 4G and 5G network coverage in the crowded stadium environment, ensuring it remains functional in these situations.

Moreover, incorporating a variety of digital entertainment suites from court action to interactive digital casino games such as UFABETCOM slots (UFABETCOM สล็อต) enables operators to keep patrons engaged during prolonged rain breaks or medical timeouts.

Regulatory Integrity and Data Security

Mobile access is growing around the world, and operating platforms need to have high data security and regulatory compliance requirements. The existing security structure is intended to be layered, with several verification methods to ensure that no one can access the system illegally and all financial transactions are safe.

1. Biometric authentication: built-in support for native biometric integration with iOS TouchID / FaceID and Android fingerprint scanner APIs.
2. Geolocation enforcement: precise geofencing to ensure that the user complies with regional gaming licenses.
3. End-to-end encryption: TLS 1.3 protocol support for all data streams and payment gateways.

In a separate report from the European Gaming and Betting Association, the platform’s integrity and consumer safety policies are the top factor in user trust in digital sports entertainment.

FAQs

How can mobile portals maintain accurate live odds with match play?

The use of WebSockets and edge computing technology allows for the transmission of live court data through mobile portals straight from the sensors of the stadium network in less than 200 milliseconds.

Why is tennis a game that suits mobile in-play betting?

Tennis has natural and discreet breaks between each point and game. This unique flow invites micro-wagering on a regular basis without affecting the viewing flow.

Can mobile sports platforms operate efficiently across unstable mobile data connections?

Today’s sports applications use the architecture of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and light data streams in JSON format that ensure the flawless functioning of the user interface even in low-bandwidth situations, such as stadium crowds.

How do modern betting websites protect the security of user accounts on mobile devices?

The combination of TLS 1.3 encryption, native mobile biometric authorization, and automatic geolocation protection ensures the absence of fraud and regulatory compliance.

What should a best-in-class mobile tennis sports website have in terms of technical capabilities?

Highly sought-after features are ultra-low latency live video streaming, one-tap bet slip execution, built-in court statistics, biometric login, and localized payment gateway processing.

Digital Sports – Architectural Excellence

The crossover of mobile networking technology from live sporting events and the culture of the modern fan has revolutionized the culture of the modern fan. Digital platforms have turned passive watching into an immersive experience by eliminating physical barriers, reducing data delivery time, and enabling complex statistical feeds to be broken down into easy-to-use mobile interfaces. The closer the real-time court action is to the immediate user interaction, the tighter the bond will get; the more the power of the mobile device and the speed of the network’s transmission will increase. Sports entertainment is in the hands of the fan.

The post How Mobile Platforms Are Revolutionizing Real-Time Tennis Entertainment and Sports Wagering appeared first on World Tennis Magazine.

Sophie Amiach is a former Australian Open quarterfinalist from France, media personality in television and radio (including US Open Radio) and the author of the book “Tennis Smart & Simple,” the innovative tennis instructional book that has corresponding QR codes that showcase corresponding videos for each lesson. The book is available for purchase and download here: https://a.co/d/0hfBho8i

At the end of this book Amiach shares her opinions on what can be changed about pro tennis. Here are a few …

Let’s start with the men’s game—where most of the adjustments are needed.

One of my biggest pet peeves? Watching very tall players dominate simply because of their serve. When 80% of a player’s game is based on aces, something feels off. As much as I respect athletes like John Isner, Ivo Karlovic and Reilly Opelka, their height gives them an outsized advantage. Over the years, the average height in men’s tennis has steadily increased—but the rules haven’t. Maybe it’s time

they did.

Raise The Net…Seriously!

A slightly higher net in the men’s game would do more than just disrupt the reign of giant servers. It would lengthen the flight time of both serves and groundstrokes. That gives players more time to react, approach the net, and try serveand-volley tactics again.

Passing shots would need more height and arc, giving volleyers a real chance to cut them off. That alone could breathe life back into a variety of playing styles—styles that have been buried under a tidal wave of modern technology: faster rackets, more powerful strings, heavier topspin, slower courts. Despite all this evolution, the rules have barely budged. And that’s wild.

Remember the magic of contrast—Borg vs. McEnroe, Navratilova vs. Evert? We’ve lost that. Today, serve-and-volley tennis is nearly extinct. With slower courts and explosive baseline power, attackers are often forced to volley ankle-high from no-man’s-land, only to be passed with ease. The game has moved on. But the rules haven’t.

Another Idea: One Serve Per Point

What if men were allowed only one serve per point? Suddenly, every point becomes a mental game. Do you go for the big serve or play it safe with more spin? The receiver can’t anticipate. That unpredictability would add suspense for fans and strategic tension for players. It would also reduce the premium placed on sheer serving power.

Bottom line: If tennis wants to evolve, it shouldn’t’ just react to new technologies—it should be willing to rethink the rules that shape the sport itself. We don’t need a revolution. Just a few bold tweaks.

A New Format For Majors For Both Genders  

The best-of-five format in men’s tennis is one of the sport’s most fiercely defended traditions. But maybe it’s time for a smarter, hybrid solution—one that satisfies players,

fans, broadcasters and yes, sponsors (who help keep the sport alive).

A Smarter Best-of-Five Format

Here’s my proposal:

If a player wins fewer than four games in each of the first two sets—say, 6–2, 6–1—they lose in straight sets. The match ends as a best-of-three. Why give a clearly overmatched player a full five-set window? But if either player wins four or more games per set—6–4, 7—5 then it becomes a full best-of-five. Competitive matches get the time they deserve. Lopsided ones don’t drag on needlessly. Yes, the purists will point to historic comebacks—and they’re not wrong. But those are rare. Meanwhile, endless, uncompetitive five-setters are all too common. This hybrid format would keep fans engaged, streamline broadcast planning, and better protect players’ bodies. Tennis is a year-round grind, and the injury toll is real. If we want stars to stick around longer, we need to take care of them. I would add that all quarterfinals, semifinals and finals men and women would play three-out-of-five sets regardless of the first two sets scores.

No Ad Scoring

I mentioned that for the sake of the new generations, tennis matches have to be shorter and the no-ad scoring will certainly help reduce the length of sometimes endless games. At 40-all or deuce the player who wins the next point will win the game. The receiver will have the choice of what side they would rather return from. This format is already used in doubles in most tournaments let’s apply it in singles as well. And by the way that would take one of the three-game points advantage for the lefties away. Trust me if the score reached 40-all, no right-hander in their right mind would have picked the ad side to receive Martina Navratilova’s lefty serve!

The Let Serve Debate

Should we play let serves? College tennis does as well as other competitions. Pro tours don’t. And personally? I’m not in favor. No two nets are exactly the same. Tension and post stability vary and that affects how a let ball reacts. Imagine losing match point at Wimbledon on a fluke let-ace off a loose net? No thanks. Martina Navratilova and I disagree here—she believes it speeds up the game. Billie Jean King has a valid counterpoint: if we play let balls during points, why not on the serve? I hear her. But for me, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

One Toss, One Serve

Here’s another pet peeve: players tossing the ball, not liking it and starting over. It happens often—especially on the women’s tour. Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Garcia, to name a few.

My take? Once the toss is up, you hit it. The toss is part of the motion. Only exception: extreme wind and even then, just one redo. Define it. Regulate it.

Add A Clock Between Serves

Absolutely. Ten seconds between first and second serves. It’s enough.

Ditch The Pre-Match Warm-Up

The five-minute on-court warm-up? Outdated. Players are already warm from the practice courts. Let them walk on, get the rules, flip the coin and start.

Bathroom Breaks

My friend and fellow commentator Pete Ogers makes a gre at point: if a set lasts less than 45 minutes, no bathroom break—unless it’s a real emergency. Quick sets followed by long breaks kill momentum and

frustrate fans. It’s bad for TV, worse for in-person energy.

Towels

I thought COVID had ended the towel ritual—ball kids handling players’ sweat. Nope. It’s back. And honestly? It’s gross. Players can handle their own towels.

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