{"id":2094812,"date":"2026-08-15T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T05:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2094812"},"modified":"2026-08-15T08:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T05:00:16","slug":"novak-djokovic-receives-fierce-backlash-after-proposed-plans-to-change-tennis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2094812","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic receives fierce backlash after proposed plans to change tennis"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Novak Djokovic receives fierce backlash after proposed plans to change tennis<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/liam-mcmillen\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Liam McMillen                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"15 Aug 2026 9:00 AM\" data-ps-date=\"15 Aug 2026 9:00 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1786780816\"><br \/>\n                            15 Aug 2026 9:00 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" 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             <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Novak Djokovic receives fierce backlash after proposed plans to change tennis\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Novak-Djokovic-removes-his-shirt-during-a-match-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Novak Djokovic changes his shirt during a match\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Novak Djokovic changes his shirt during a match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Novak Djokovic<\/a> kicked up an almighty stink with his ideas to freshen up tennis and introduce a younger generation of fans to the sport.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nick_knows_ball\/status\/2084058046477586619?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">Nick Knows Ball<\/a> prior to his upcoming appearance at the Cincinnati Open, Djokovic revealed controversial plans to quicken up the game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot play up to six games in the set, play it up to four, possibly no advantage,\u201d he said in a social media video. \u201cBest of five sets, keep the matches within a two hour window. It\u2019s best for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While these rules are similar to that of the NextGen Finals and the UTS Tour, they have not gone down very well at all with fans and pundits.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/joao-fonsecabrutally-honest-response-about-novak-djokovic-change-the-rules-tennis\" target=\"_blank\">Joao Fonseca said Djokovic\u2019s plans were due to his age<\/a>, while the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ben-shelton\">Ben Shelton<\/a> suggested he would enjoy to play under the fresher format.<\/p>\n<p>Now, former professional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/Yevgeny-Kafelnikov\">Yevgeny Kafelnikov<\/a> has questioned the 24-time Grand Slam champion\u2019s proposed ideas to \u2018revolutionise\u2019 the sport.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/yevgeny%20kafelnikov\" target=\"_blank\">First&amp;Red<\/a>, Kafelnikov, who won two Grand Slam titles and reached world No 1 during his glittering career, disagreed with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic\u2019s<\/a> ideas.<\/p>\n<h2>More Novak Djokovic news<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/circus-roger-federer-rival-contrasts-changes-novak-djokovics-new-approach\">\u2018Bit of a circus\u2019 \u2013 Roger Federer rival contrasts Swiss\u2019 changes to Novak Djokovic\u2019s new approach<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/goran-ivanisevic-most-complete-player-rafael-nadal-roger-federer-novak-djokovic\">Goran Ivanisevic picks the \u2018most complete\u2019 player out of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s absurd! It\u2019s nonsense beyond belief,\u201d he said on the Russian-speaking YouTube channel. \u201cIf this happens, I will be completely disappointed with tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He isn\u2019t the only former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/ATP-Tour\">ATP<\/a> star to question Djokovic\u2019s ideas either, with Julien Benneteau also believing the Serbian\u2019s plans are a bad idea.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tennisactu.net\/news-atp-ievgueni-kafelnikov-en-desaccord-avec-novak-djokovic-c-est-absurde-126379.html?utm_campaign=post-auto&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_source=mashup-tennisactu\" target=\"_blank\">TennisActu<\/a>, the Frenchman said: \u201cFifteen-minute sets? Is that really what we want?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While there are no current ideas to overhaul the scoring system in tennis, this is not the first time big names in the game have suggested a change.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/patrick-mouratoglou\">Patrick Mouratoglou<\/a>, who has coached the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/serena-williams\">Serena Williams<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/Holger-Rune\">Holger Rune<\/a>, and is also the mastermind of the UTS Tour, has suggested similar changes to update tennis.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking in 2020, the Greek coach said: <span>\u201cYoung kids do not see tennis as a \u2018fun\u2019 sport. <\/span><span>The way we score is complicated. The rules are strict. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe goal on the court is to show nothing, and then when you show something you are a bad person. Getting angry is not allowed. The show that you see on TV is not exciting, like the NFL or NBA, because you are seeing robots.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>While Djokovic\u2019s recent stance about the way the game is played has seen a backlash, there is clearly demand from some of the very top brass in tennis to change the way the game is played in order to attrack the next generation of players and viewers.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novak Djokovic receives fierce backlash after proposed plans to change tennis Liam McMillen 15 Aug 2026 9:00 AM Novak Djokovic changes his shirt during a match Novak Djokovic kicked up an almighty stink with his ideas to freshen up tennis and introduce a younger generation of fans to the sport. Speaking to Nick Knows Ball [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2094812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2094812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094812\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2094812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2094812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2094812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}