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Australian Open acts on fifth-set tiebreaks after Wimbledon fiasco

Australian Open officials plan to consult players over key decisions regarding the future of the grand slam, including the possible introduction of final-set tiebreaks.

Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson was vocal in his criticism of the lack of a breaker in the fifth set of matches at the All England Club after he was forced to play for six-and-a-half hours in his semi-final against John Isner.

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And as the Australian Open starts to make plans for the future, officials want to involve the athletes in discussions.

“Obviously in recent days there has been a lot of public comment on a fifth-set tiebreaker for the men,” tournament director Craig Tiley said.

Will these two giants ever play another six-hour epic? Pic: Getty
Will these two giants ever play another six-hour epic? Pic: Getty

“We encourage the discussion and we want to know what the players think.

“We also want to know what they think about a third-set tie-breaker for the women, how they feel about the current presentation of doubles and many other aspects of the existing playing conditions.”

He added: “We pride ourselves on being a player-friendly slam. We have always consulted heavily with the playing group and this is simply the next phase of that process.”

The US Open is the only major to have implemented final-set tiebreaks, forcing players into the deciding format at 6-6.

But it now appears to be a matter of time before the others follow – even the traditionalists on grass.

“Having a tiebreak at some stage probably is going to be the outcome,” Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewis told the New York Times.

“But I wouldn’t be 100 per cent certain about it.”

Whether the three slams decide to outright copy the US Open remains to be seen.

Anderson and Isner reportedly proposed tiebreaks at 12-12 as a compromise following their epic, effectively capping matches to a ‘sixth set’, but 9-9 has also been tabled.

with Omnisport