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They've broken tennis! Turbo Tennis, Channel 4, now
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The reverent silence in which tennis is played has always been a little mystifying. If footballers (or non-English footballers, at any rate) can score a penalty with 50,000 baying fans in front of them, surely tennis players should be able to do their job under pressure too. The Betfair Turbo Tennis tournament is an attempt to drag the sport away from the strawberries and cream traditions of the All England Club. Matches are played indoors, and last 30 minutes, ending with the decidedly modern innovation of a klaxon. Tight time limits between points, and sudden death instead of deuces ensure that things should move along at a furious pace. The players have been selected for popularity rather than ability, with James Blake, the only established top 10 player, joined by Tiger Tim, both the Murray Brothers, Goran Ivanisevic, and Pat Cash. The entire event is over in a single afternoon with the winner collecting $100,000.
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To speed things up, we have introduced a few new rules for Betfair Turbo Tennis:
1. Matches will last for 30 minutes.
After 27 minutes, a klaxon will sound signalling that the current game will be the last game of the match. If the score is tied after this game a sudden death point will be played to decide the winner. The player who would have been due to serve in the next game will serve this point. The receiver will choose the court to receive into.
2. The following breaks will be permitted.
a. Between serves - 10 seconds
b. Between points - 15 seconds
c. Between games - 30 seconds
Failure to comply with these times will result in the offending player forfeiting the point. The receiver can also forfeit a point for delaying tactics.
3. No net cords. Play will continue provided the serve is in.
4. At deuce, no advantage will be played, producing a sudden-death scenario. The receiver will be allowed to choose in which court he wishes to receive.
5. There will be one change of ends after 15 minutes (at the end of the game in progress). A one-minute rest period will be allowed at the change of ends only.
6. A drinks/towel station will be situated at each end of the court. Players will be allowed to use these at any time during the match subject to compliance with the time restraints. A player may choose to forfeit a point in order to spend time at the station.
7. Players will be required to serve with the first two balls given to them by the ball children. If a player rejects a ball, he will be left with just one serve. If a player has a ball in his pocket but asks the ball boy for two more balls he will also forfeit a serve.
8. Once the server has thrown the ball up for the toss, he must hit it. If he doesn’t, it will be counted as a fault.
9. Players must be ready for their match one minute after the end of the previous match.
10. There will be a two-minute warm up time prior to each match. Warm up facilities will also be available courtside throughout the session e.g. bikes, skipping ropes etc.
11. All players must remain courtside for the duration of the evening. Physiotherapy will also take place courtside unless, in the opinion of the medical team, the treatment should be carried out in private.
12. All players must wear predominantly coloured clothing with no more than 20% white.
Sounds... interesting. Blatantly trying to repeat the appeal of Twenty20, will be interesting to see how it goes.
Pretty sure I read that Henman's pulled out though.
09-15-2007, 05:18 PM
They've broken tennis! Turbo Tennis, Channel 4, now Post #2
Tim Henman became a father for the third time on Friday September 14 when his wife Lucy gave birth to Grace, who weighed eight pounds 11 ounces.
Grace joins Rose Elizabeth (Rosie), who was born on October 19 2002, and Olivia, who was born on December 15, 2004 in the Henman household.
The 33-year-old was due to play in the Betfair Turbo Tennis event at the O2 Arena on Saturday September 15 but for obvious reasons the British number two has been forced to withdraw.
“I was looking forward to playing but obviously I feel my place is with Lucy and the children at the moment,” explained the 33-year-old.
“The baby was due at the weekend so she’s arrived a little early. Even though it’s our third it’s still a wonderful experience and a very special time; we couldn’t be happier.”
Henman’s place will be taken by Greg Rusedski, who will play former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) in the first round of matches.
The pair will be joined by American James Blake, Andy Murray his brother Jamie and Australia’s Pat Cash.
Each match will last for 30 minutes, and when the klaxon sounds the final game will be played, and the player with the most points will be the winner.
Doors will open at13.30 local time with the first ball struck an hour later at 14:30.
The event will be screened by Channel 4 between 16.10 and 18.50, covering the semi-finals and final.
Tim :*)
09-15-2007, 05:28 PM
They've broken tennis! Turbo Tennis, Channel 4, now Post #8
They've broken tennis! Turbo Tennis, Channel 4, now 
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