Rafael Nadal Calls New ATP Time Rule Between Points ‘A Disaster’, Says “Guy Who Created Rule Is Not Very Smart”

Rafael Nadal berates new ATP rule meant to speed up matches, in breaking sports news this week.

In November, the ATP Pro Tennis Network reduced the time players are allowed to spend between points, which Nadal feels very strongly is not good for the sport of tennis.

The goal of the new rule was to speed up the game and provide uniformity against the arbitrary rule enforcement in the past. Repeated violations now come with stricter enforcement, but relaxed penalties, according to Inquisitr.

Players who take more than 25 seconds between points will now be warned by officials, and additional violations will get the player a 'fault.'

Rafael Nadal, known for being a slow player, will be affected more than most other pros. Nadal often takes more than 30 seconds between points.

Nadal followed the new ATP rules in his recent win over Ryan Harrison at the BNP Paribas Open. In his first hard court match in more than a year after suffering an injury, Nadal won 7-6 (3), 6-2.

The match was played in dry and cool conditions. Nadal commented that the heat of the summer months will impact the matches much more.

"I am [playing faster] because somebody very smart puts a new rule that is a disaster, in my opinion. Not in places like here that is dry, not very humid place, but is completely disaster when we are playing in tournaments like Acapulco, Brazil or Chile," Nadal told reporters.

Nadal complained that the new ATP rule will make it harder for players to rally, which is what fans love about tennis. After some of the 30-plus shot rallies in his career, he and his opponent spent 30 seconds or more to recover.

"The rules go against the great points of tennis. Because if you see the highlights of the end of the season, I didn't see not one highlight, the best points of the season, I did not see one ace. The best points of the season are long rallies and amazing points. With this 25 seconds, you play a long rally and you think you can play another long rally next point? No. So go against the good tennis," Nadal stated.

"The guy who really accepted this rule was not very smart, in my opinion," he concluded.