The future of tennis was promised to be in the desert. I sat in the stands of the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, watching as Abdullah Shelbayh, the eighth seed, made a dramatic entrance. The stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, sprawling across nearly 4 million square meters, featured a grand introduction for Shelbayh. An announcer listed his accomplishments in both Arabic and English as the music and lasers created a spectacle. Despite the impressive light show, the arena was nearly empty, with only a few dozen spectators present. The ATP spokesperson acknowledged the low turnout but remained hopeful that interest in tennis in Saudi Arabia would grow over time.
The Next Gen tournament in Jeddah was a testing ground for new ideas in tennis. From rule changes to wearable tech capturing players’ biometrics, the event aimed to innovate and engage fans. Matches had a different format, with games played to four points and sets won in four games. The scoring system was altered, and breaks between sets were introduced, causing some controversy among players. The ATP’s chief sporting officer, Ross Hutchins, emphasized the importance of engaging fans in the evolving landscape of sports entertainment.
As the tournament explored new ways to enhance the fan experience, the traditional aspects of tennis were challenged. The Hawk-Eye system, using multiple cameras to track the ball’s trajectory, highlighted the game’s geometric nature. Hutchins proposed radical changes to the sport, questioning the traditional scoring system and dead time in matches. The tension between tradition and modernity was evident as tennis sought to adapt to the changing preferences of a new generation of fans.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah represented a bold step towards reshaping the future of tennis. The event’s blend of innovation and tradition sparked discussions about the direction of the sport and its ability to evolve in a rapidly changing world.