Tennis: Williams-Trainer Mouratoglou plant Tennis-Revolution

Tennis fans are getting older. The average age of viewers is 61 years. And is steadily increasing. “No healthy development,” says star coach Patrick Mouratoglou (50). For him it is clear: “It takes a revolution.”

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The Frenchman launched the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) during the corona break. The tournament was held in Nice over six weekends. Also there: top players such as Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and winner Matteo Berrettini. Mouratoglou wants to revolutionize sport with the tournament format.

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His team found out that between 80 and 95 percent of the playing time, no tennis was played at all. “The players go around, use towels, choose the right balls. Everything that is boring. We shortened that, »he tells the« world ».

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A player must serve after 15 seconds at the latest. The game is played in four quarters, each ten minutes long. There is no 30: 0 or 40:15. Every point counts like in the tie-break. Whoever leads after ten minutes wins the section. If it is 2-2 after four quarters, sudden death occurs.

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A point can count three times

Particularly creative: As with the board game Monopoly, action cards can be used. A point could count three times. The opponent’s right to serve can also be stolen.

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The trainer from Serena Williams wants to attract the boys with the format. “Young people no longer want to pursue matches for hours in complete calm,” Mouratoglou is certain. «We compete against Netflix, social media, video games, e-sports and other sports. Our product is a little old fashioned. Very long, very slow. »

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Of course, a five-sentence thriller between Federer and Nadal tears the fans off the seat. But: To be honest, there are these big, epic duels only two or three times a year. Even the right fans rarely watch a full-length match. They look at the end of a sentence and then they go to the fridge. »

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No attack against ATP and WTA

It is clear to him that Mouratoglou also met with criticism with his idea. “If you tell the existing fans that you want to change the rules, they’ll shout: No!” His format is not directed against ATP and WTA. «Tennis needs both. A league to satisfy the existing audience and a league to win new fans, »emphasizes the Frenchman.

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