The NextGen ATP Finals will celebrate its fourth edition next week (9-13 November) in Milan, with the presence among the eight best U21 tennis players by the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. The ATP announced this Saturday a package of new innovative rules in addition to those that already made this competition different, a test bed for the future of tennis.
These are the rules that are implemented this season:
- Shorter warm-ups: from 4 minutes to 1. Less downtime, more action.
- Coaching on the court: the coaching will be done from the sides. Headphones will no longer be used, as in previous years.
- Cameras on the network: a front row seat for viewers, right in the heart of the action.
- Limited Medical Downtimes: one per player and per game.
- Timed bathroom breaks: maximum 3 minutes (+ up to 2 per change of clothing). The clock is ticking.
And these, the ones that already existed:
- Five-set matches won by the first to reach 4 games
- There is no advantage in the deuce
- Free movement of fans in the stadium
- Electronic line judges
- Service clock
- Video review
- Towel racks
The field is set for @intesasanpaolo #NextGenATPFinals 🤙⚡ pic.twitter.com/s82nwFkb4B
– Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) November 6, 2021
There are already groups
On the other hand, the composition of the groups is already known. Alcaraz will play in A with Brandon Nakashima, Juan Manuel Cerúndolo and Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune. In B will be Sebastian Korda, Lorenzo Musetti, Sebastián Baez and Hugo Gaston, so the Frenchman and Alcaraz could not face each other until the crossroads if they qualify.