A return to wooden racquets and white balls was never an option but the surface a tournament is played on will now determine which of three types of tennis ball is used on the men's and women's professional tour.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) voted at its annual general meeting over the weekend in Mexico that a fast (type 1), medium (type 2) and slow ball (type 3) would be introduced for future competitions.
For several years officials and players have being discussing the best method of halting the domination of the power game, particularly at the world's most important event at Wimbledon.
The largest of the three balls, developed with the help of NASA, took 18 months to perfect and is expected to slow down the impossible speeds at which Goran Ivanisevic, Greg Rusedski and latterly US teenager Andy Roddick serve. Rusedski currently holds the world record for a 149 mph delivery, a speed to which even the best returners such as Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt cannot react .
The hope is that finesse, which has disappeared due the high-tech racquets and changing physique of the players, will return to the game.
The bigger ball is seven per cent larger than the standard ball, moves slower and bounces higher, giving the service receiver 20 milliseconds - or about 10 per cent - more reaction time.
The balls used on traditionally slow surfaces, such as the clay at the French and Italian Opens, are designed to deform less when hitting the court and allow a lower rebound.
The theory is that Wimbledon will have fewer one or two-stroke rallies and that Roland Garros will not have as many endless slogging matches.
Players such as Ivanisevic had already signalled their disapproval before the changes were agreed, arguing that it mitigated against players who had spent years tailoring their game to suit a particular surface. But the ITF believe it to be critical to enhancing the appeal of the game.
"We are doing what is right for the whole game, not just the professional game and I don't think there is much to complain about," said ITF technical manager Andrew Coe.
"Any top sportsman is not going to be keen on a change which they perceive to disadvantage them, but hopefully they will wait and try it before they comment."
The ITF also approved experimenting with a super tiebreak, which has already been used in the US Open mixed doubles final.
The tiebreak is used instead of a final set with the player reaching 10 points first the winner. As with a regular tiebreak it is necessary to win by a two-point margin.
The governing body also suggested that teams wear national uniforms for Davis Cup, Federation Cup and other international team competitions.
Main points
1. Three types of balls, fast, medium and slow.
2. Super tiebreak in place of final set.
3. Teams wear national uniform for Davis and Federation Cups.
