Another touch from Nadal to Djokovic: “I like the traditional court with linesmen”

After expressing his disagreement with the possibility of best-of-five sets tennis matches being eliminated, including at Grand Slams, and that Novak Djokovic will position himself against the opinion of the Spanish, Rafa Nadal gave a new touch to the Serbian, leader of the ranking and of a new players union, the PTPA, which could advocate for a number of changes that would include the length of matches, the scoring system, and refereeing methods. This last aspect was commented on by the world number two when they asked him, after his match against Thiem, if he was uncomfortable with the electronic system that replaces the chair judges at the ATP Finals in London, a measure that is tested as an anti-protocol. COVID, to reduce the presence of people on the track as a precaution against possible contagions.

“Everyone will have their opinions and they are all valid, I do not want controversy, but I like the traditional track better, you dress more with linesmenAlthough I also heard Djokovic say that they were not necessary, I think it was at Roland Garros. Everything is respectable and there is no one opinion better than another, “said Nadal.” They are different views of the sport and I personally like it less. But it is what it is and welcome. At least, you have to be able to adapt to the circumstances that this world offers us today, “he continued.

“We have a sport with room for evolution, which has changed very little in the last 50 years, compared to most. But I don't think this is a way to improve the show.”, snapped the Balearic tennis player firmly, who is clear about his preferences, and who gave a very graphic example of the drift that according to him can cause such a measure: “As a tradition, I like more to see a court with the linesmen and with the chair judge, although it still turns out that the result is only there to sing. If we want to go in that direction, since there are no lines, the chair judge would not be necessary either. To make decisions there could be an automatic video analysis that if there is any doubt it can be asked and there is already a clock to count the time… “. “We players can stay alone on the court, at a technological level it would not be a problem. I like that the human part intervenes in what is sport, because it brings more value and has more grace”, I conclude. A new chapter in a fight for the future of tennis that may bring a queue and many discussions in the coming months and that can continue these days in London.