Players to be given mid-match ‘timeouts’ as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff forced to adjust
Timeouts will be introduced during the first tournament of the 2025 season.
The United Cup has announced a drastic new rule change that will allow for a timeout in the middle of a match.
Each nation will be allowed to pause play once to discuss tactics on the sidelines in every mixed doubles rubber.
The likes of Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are often on double duty, playing both singles and mixed for their respective countries, and they will have to get used to the mid-match interruptions.
The United Cup will be back for its third edition to kick off the 2025 season, with ATP and WTA stars joining forces to represent their country.
The ties are spread out across Perth and Sydney, with two singles matches taking place before a mixed doubles contest. Organisers have now shared a new “innovation” for the doubles, allowing players and captains to stop the competition for 60 seconds.
It will give each team “the opportunity to confer on strategy in addition to the changing of ends.” The player or captain must press a big red button in the team zone to call the timeout.
