The tiebreak has become a part of tennis, part of the foundational changes that went through the sport. But the set decider has not been around that long. The tiebreak has however made tennis matches shorter and more attractive for spectators.
American Jimmy Van Alen Looks For New Scoring System
Years before the tiebreak was actually finally implemented, the later inventor, American Jimmy Van Alen, tried to make tennis quicker and more attractive with the use of a new scoring system. The U.S. Pro Championship in Cleveland, Ohio in 1955 and 1956 even were played with the so-called "Van Alen Streamlined Scoring System" - in which games were scored as in table tennis with best of five sets until 21 points with players alternating service after five points. Spectators did not take to the idea though and the tournament changed back to the traditional rules in 1957.
Tiebreak Invented In 1965, 1969 Wimbledon Final Decisive Match
Van Alen did not give up his goal of shortening tennis matches and he came up with the tiebreak in 1965. The tennis world ruling body ITF tested the new scoring system at Newport, Rhode Island and the new system gained momentum when Pancho Gonzales beat Charlie Pasarell in the 1969 Wimbledon final with the score-line of 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9 in a match which lasted more than five hours over two days.
Implemented For First Time At 1970 U.S. Open
The tiebreak was introduced at the 1970 U.S. Open and was used in sets other than the last that were even at 8-8. And the first player to five points won the set. In 1979, the tiebreak rule was changed to the current standard - in sets other than the final set that were tied at 6-6 with the first player to seven points with a two-point lead.
Tiebreak Revolutionized The Game
The tiebreak proved over the years to truly revolutionize the sport while making matches shorter and more attractive. One of the main criticisms of the tiebreak was that it favored players who had big, strong serves.
Spectacular Tiebreaks
Since its inception, the tiebreak has provided for plenty of highlights. In the 1980 Wimbledon final, Bjorn Borg failed to convert seven championship points in a fourth set tiebreaker which John McEnroe won 18-16 before Borg won the fifth set 8-6 and the title. The longest tiebreak in history also took place at Wimbledon on July 1, 1985 when January Gunnarson and Michael Mortensen beat John Frawley and Victor Pecci 26-24 in the fourth set of a doubles match. There have been final singles matches that had 20-18 tiebreakers including Roger Federer beating Marat Safin at the 2004 Tennis Masters Cup.
Edberg Thankful For Van Alen
In a curious 1991 Wimbledon semifinal, Michael Stich beat Stefan Edberg 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2) even though Edberg did not once lose his serve. The tiebreak inventor Van Alen died on that day. And Edberg remarked: "If he hadn't lived, Michael and I might still be out there playing."
