Big changes are coming to the Grand Slam format in 2018, and an even bigger one is on the way in 2019. After a meeting of the Grand Slam committee the four majors have decided to introduce a 25-second clock at the majors as well as implementing fines for players who delay the start of play from during warmups at the beginning of a match.
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The Grand Slam also announced that any player who withdraws after 12 noon on Thursday of the week prior to the beginning of a major will receive 50 percent of allotted prize money for a first-round loss, while the lucky loser selected to take his or her place will receive the other half.
The biggest decision by the board will not be activated until 2019, when the number of seeded players at majors will be reduced to 16 players again. This means that tennis’ top players could face more challenging draws in the first week at majors. In the current system, a top eight seed could not face anybody seeded higher than 25-32 in the third round. In 2019 a top seed could face the No.17 player in the world in the first round.
Below find a full enumeration of the changes coming to Grand Slam tennis: