Time for Tie-breakers
The 2007 U.S. Open has featured several thrilling matches which have gone the distance including the Tommy Haas and James Blake encounter which ended in a fifth set tie-breaker. The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam to play final set tie-breakers. Traditionalists may prefer that the final set is “played out,” i.e. a player has to win by two games, but it seems fitting that there are tie-breakers in the final set at the U.S. Open. It is the
last Grand Slam of the year, played on hard courts which tax the body and in often hot, humid conditions and tie-breakers create light at the end of a sometimes exhausting match. More importantly, after playing regular games, a tie-breaker actually feels a lot longer since you need to win seven points rather than four to be victorious. The U.S. Open feels more like entertainment than the other Grand Slams so it seems apropos that they play final set tie-breakers which inevitably create dramatic conclusions to what have already been very close matches. Wonder when or if a U.S. Open Championship match will ever be decided by a final set tie-breaker.
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