WIMBLEDON has returned and tennis players are ready to set new records such as Novak Djokovic challenging himself to pass Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s titles.
Here is everything you need to know about the fifth set tie-break ahead of Wimbledon 2024.
Wimbledon 2024 LIVE: Point-by-point action, results and news from the All England Club
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Until 2019, players at Wimbledon used to keep playing until there was a winner by two clear games.
However, this rule was then changed with tie-breaks being played when a fifth set reaches 12-12.
In 2022 Wimbledon started to use the same system as the other Grand Slams.
In the past final sets at Wimbledon and other Grand Slams continued indefinitely until one player won by two clear games.
However, now a 10-point tie-break has been introduced to decide all final sets that are level at six games each.
The Grand Slam Board announced in March 2022: “On behalf of the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, the Grand Slam Board are pleased to announce the joint decision to play a 10-point tie-break at all Grand Slams, to be played when the score reaches six games all in the final set.
“Further to extensive consultation with the WTA, ATP, ITF and tennis officiating community, 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.”
The French Open was the only Grand Slam not to have a fifth set tie-break until 2022.
The Grand Slams agreed to trial a uniform system for one year, which sees every tournament playing a tie-break at 6-6 in the fifth set.
The first player to reach ten points (with a margin of two clear points) is the winner.
The Australian Open does have a fifth set tie-break.
And the ‘first to ten’ system used in Melbourne is the standard for all competitions since 2022.
This tie-break format was introduced to ensure matches do not extend excessively, providing a clear and timely conclusion to matches that reach the deciding set.
Yes, the US Open has used a tie-break to decide all five-set matches since 1970.
It has been a standard practice at the US Open and is now widely accepted across tennis tournaments worldwide.
Tie-breaks were previously played to seven points in the fifth set but will now be played to ten.
PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record – and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.
The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events – an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.
However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 – taking the winner’s earnings to £2.7m.
Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:
Winner: £2.7m
Runner-up: £1.4m
Semi-finalists: £715,000
Quarter-finalists: £375,000
Fourth round: £226,000
Third round: £143,000
Second round: £93,000
First round: £60,000
Overall total: £50m
