About Joe Rill Expertise Can answer questions related to coaching and playing tennis including stroke production, skill evaluation, group drills, player evaluation, planning and record keeping, mental toughness, first aid and minor health issues, social aspects of club tennis, tennis rules and regulations, and tennis courtesy. I no longer desire to answer questions on "How to become a Pro."
Experience Forty years total playing experience including: 25 years tournament play, three year tennis club tennis director; former racket stringer; Graduate Vandermeer Tennis Univ I; Virginia HS League certified coach; Asst Tournament Director
Question *can the Men's US Open Tie Breakers be 10 points or 7 points at the rules committee discretion and changed yearly? * Which person starts serving in a US Open tie breaker? *How often and when/why do the players change sides in the tie breaker? * The winner of the tie breaker must win by two points correct? * How many games in the Men's US Open championship match. Best of 5 or the best of 7? *Approximately how many total players in the Men's US Open and how are they invited and seeded? * Approximately how many players can enter the Men's US Open qualifying tournament and how many get to advance to the main tournament? *Is a serve by one of the best in the game like Roddick or Samprus (in past) at 135 MPH to 142 MPH considered one of their best or did this speed happen fairly regularly? * Approximately 23,000 seats in Auther Ashe stadium correct? Thank you Joe as I am finalizing information on this ASAP and I need the answers ASAP. THANK YOU!!!
Answer Hi Rick,
Normally I limit my answers to one question. But you sounded like this was important and asked for a rapid response so here you are.
There are SET tie breakers (First to 7 with margin of 2 points) and MATCH tiebreakers (First to 10 with a margin of 2 points). See USTA Regs I.V.1. US Open uses Set Tie Breakers even in the final set. The 10 point tiebreaker is normally used in place of a final set (not at US Open). In other words, the players start the final set by playing a 10 point tie breaker. This is not unusual in smaller, unsanctioned tournaments in which the tie breaker is played when the score is one set all. USTA Reg I.V.3. requires set-tiebreakers in all sanctioned tournaments to be as described in USTA Rule 27.b. Certainly the USTA can and does change the rules annually, that’s how the tie-breaker became law. But at the present time the above rules are in effect.
The person to start the set tie-breaker is the one whose turn it is to serve based on who served last. The person who starts the match tie-breaker does not have to be the one whose turn it is based on the last person to serve in the previous set. This is because the 10 point tie-breaker takes the place of a new set. Thus, in doubles, the pair whose turn it is to serve (because the other pair served last in the previous set) may start to serve with either member of the pair just as it would be if they were playing a normal set. In both kinds of tie breakers, the opponents change ends after every 6 points.
You are correct; the winner of the tie-breaker must win by two points.
The US Open Championship Match is best of five or the first one to win three sets. The number of games in such a match could vary from 6 per set times three sets (6-0, 6-0, 6-0 =18 games) up to 13 games per set times five sets (7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 = 65 games).
The men’s singles draw in the US Open is 64 players. Men’s Doubles has a draw of 64 pairs. Admission to the main singles draw is based on ATP points except for wild cards. In 2004 there were nine wild cards. When Michael Chang was 15 years old, he was one of 8 Wild Card entries. See USTA Reg Para III. A. 5. i. for a discussion of Junior Wild Cards. Seeding is determined by a committee that considers rankings, records, types of surface, head to head encounters, as well as other subjective considerations. A player may be ranked number one, but not seeded number one.
Roddick’s record holding serve of 150 mph is his fastest. He does not serve that fast even “fairly regularly.” But the fast serving Pro’s do serve in the 135 mph range frequently.
Arthur Ashe Stadium holds from 22,547-23,157 spectators depending on which reference you use.
