French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open to all have 10-point final set tie-breaks at 6-6 in trial

ByEurosport

Updated 16/03/2022 at 10:33 GMT

All tennis Grand Slams will have a tie-breaker to decide the final set in a united decision announced by the heads of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. The match winner will be the first player to reach 10 points with an advantage of two points. The French Open was the only remaining Grand Slam to not have a tie-breaker system for the deciding set.

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All tennis Grand Slams will have 10-point tie-breaks from now on when the score reaches 6-6 in the final set.

After consulting with the WTA, ATP and the ITF, the Grand Slam Board have agreed to implement the rule change that will begin at the French Open. The main draw at Roland-Garros is set to get underway on May 22.

A statement read: “The Grand Slam Board’s decision is based on a strong desire to create greater consistency in the rules of the game at the Grand Slams, and thus enhance the experience for the players and fans alike.

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“This trial, which has been approved by the rules of the tennis committee governed by the ITF, will apply to all Grand Slams across qualifying, men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, wheelchair and junior events in singles, and will commence at the 2022 edition of Roland-Garros.”

The trial means that once the score reaches 6-6 in the final set, the match winner will be the first player to win 10 points with an advantage of two points.

The Australian Open has had first-to-10 points tie-breaks in the final set since January 2019.

At Wimbledon, a final set 12-12 tie-break was introduced in 2019 after a 26-24 set between Kevin Anderson and John Isner at the 2018 Wimbledon semi-finals. The US Open adopted a fifth-set tie-break in 1970.

The Grand Slam board say the first-to-10 points trial will be reviewed during a full Grand Slam year before applying for a permanent rule change should it prove successful.

The rule change will also prevent a repeat of Isner's match against France's Nicolas Mahut which went to 70-68 in the final set at Wimbledon in 2010. The first round men's singles tie lasted 11 hours and five minutes.