During the crucial match in the Japanese capital between Carlos Alcaraz and his opponent, an incident occurred that drew the attention of both fans and experts. The Spanish athlete became the focus of discussion after receiving a time violation warning while preparing to serve.
Chair umpire Fergus Murphy called the violation in the fourth game, when Alcaraz needed to catch his breath following a lengthy rally. At that moment, the score was 40-30, and the Spaniard was trying to level the game. Despite the intensity of the previous exchange, the official gave no leeway and issued a formal warning.
After the change of ends, with Alcaraz trailing 2-3, he questioned the umpire about the fairness of the decision. The player expressed confusion over being left with barely any time to prepare for his next serve and to recover after such a long rally. In his view, this situation puts athletes at a disadvantage.
Recently, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has tightened enforcement of the time allowed between serves. The countdown is now managed by an automated system instead of the umpire. This measure aims to create uniform standards but has sparked debate among tournament participants.
Furthermore, other aspects of the regulations have changed since the coronavirus pandemic. Tennis players are no longer allowed to ask ball kids to bring them towels. Instead, special baskets are now placed on both sides of the court where players keep their towels and can use them on their own. After long rallies, reaching the basket can take considerable time, which also affects the athletes’ recovery.
The incident with Alcaraz has once again raised the issue of balancing strict adherence to the rules with the need to consider players’ physical exertion. The debate over the advisability of automation and new restrictions continues among both professionals and fans.
