Kevin Anderson, Karen Khachanov reflect on new AO final-set tie-break rule
Wimbledon runner-up Kevin Anderson and rising Russian star Karen Khachanov have given their thoughts on the new Australian Open final set tie-break rule.
The Australian Open announced last week that the tournament will feature a first-to-10-points tie-break at 6-6 in the final set this January.
A six-hour and 36-minute Wimbledon semi-final between Anderson and John Isner -- which the South-African eventually won 26-24 after a five-set thriller -- led to Wimbledon and then the Australian Open making changes.
However, at Wimbledon, a tie-break will be played at 12-12 in the final set.
The US Open features a regular tie-break at 6-6 in the final set, while the French Open hasn't changed the old win-by-two-games format.
"It is kind of weird, and interesting I guess. Each one is different," Anderson told reporters ahead of his Abu Dhabi exhibition campaign, per Sport360.
Anderson also said that he thinks the French Open will also make some changes for the final set, before adding: "They are just trying to be a bit unique in their own ways when it comes to what they’re doing in the fifth-setters but I don't think it's going to make that big of a difference as long as it's not an endless [set], where it keeps going on and on."
Khachanov appears not to be concerned about the various final-set rules used at the Grand Slams.
"I don't know if it's easier or tougher because at the end you’re playing with an opponent, you don't play just alone on the court. He has the same conditions, he has the same rules, so it's the same for both guys, so it doesn't matter if it's up to seven or up to 10 or up to five, it will be the same thing," Khachanov told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
Also read: Coming back after a tough period is a challenge, admits Rafael Nadal
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2rYJzbu
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