Dunlop
The Grand Slam Board has announced the joint decision to play a 10-point tie-break at all four Grand Slams, to be played when the score reaches six games all in the final set.
The decision was made at a media briefing on Wednesday at Roland Garros - home of the French Open.
The Grand Slam Board said its 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.
Termed a trial process for now, the Grand Slam Board said it plans to review the rule-change during the course of a full Grand Slam year before applying for any permanent rule change.
The Australian Open had already previously introduced the 5th set tie-break rule and incredibly, the US Open first introduced the 5th set tie-break more than 50 years ago.
On 24 June 2010, the American John Isner defeated the Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in a first-round match played over three days at Wimbledon.
The match -- longest in pro-tennis history -- took 11 hours, 5 minutes and 183 games to decide a winner.
Isner eventually won 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68, The staggering numbers in that final set were a direct consequence of there being no 5th set tie break at Wimbledon at the time.
In July 2018, South Africa's Kevin Anderson won the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history against non-other than John Isner.
Anderson prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24 in a match lasting six hours and 35 minutes. The fifth set alone lasted two hours and 55 minutes - again because there was no 5th set tie-break rule in effect.
Unsurprisingly, Anderson had very little left in the tank for the Final two days later which he lost 6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–3) to Novak Djokovic.
