
Officials in the tennis world have green-lit a rule change, and spectators aren’t happy about it.
The ATP Tour has chosen to roll back a regulation that was implemented during the COVID-19 epidemic, and this decision will have significant future consequences for both the boys and girls of the competition.
A measure was taken to curb the transmission of the virus by prohibiting ball kids from touching players’ damp towels during games.
After this year’s Wimbledon, players will no longer be required to handle their towels to use during matches.
The regulation change was reaffirmed during recent ATP board sessions. As was the norm prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board has authorized a rule change to allow players to request and receive towels between points. The ATP said this rule must be implemented at all ATP tournaments. Following Wimbledon, this regulation modification will be put into force.
The ATP said that going forward, we want to reduce the amount of time squandered during matches.
A typical comment on social media is the courage that the ATP thinks it’s OK for someone else to continue handling players’ towels when players blow their noses or cough into them.
Yet, this was the norm prior to the pandemic, and no one demanded a rule change.
It was typical to see ball kids rushing to players between points with white towels before the COVID-19 epidemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened hygiene regulations, so players are now required to bring their own towels to games.
Former world number seven Fernando Verdasco came under fire in the 2018 Shenzhen Open semi-final for what seemed to be an escalating confrontation with a ball boy over his perceived delay in receiving a towel.
Judy Murray proposed a regulation change that would require participants to provide their towels.
The ATP Tour tournaments in Hamburg, Newport, Gstaad, and Bastad, Sweden, next week will mark the beginning of the regulation.