ITF agrees to use three different types of ball

Rule changes approving the use of three different types of ball and a new tie-break experiment were agreed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) at its Annual General Meeting on Friday.

The meeting voted overwhelmingly to allow three different types of tennis ball according to the pace of the surface -- ball type 1 (fast speed), ball type 2 (medium speed) and ball type 3 (slow speed).

The ITF also approved an experiment to use the "Super Tie Break" game until the end of next year to replace the deciding final set in a three or five set match.

The first player to 10 points will win the new "Super Tie Break", provided he leads by a margin of two points.

The ITF also approved an initiative to require team uniforms in national colours for players in the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and other international team events.

Teams will be asked to co-operate with this initiative next year before the ITF proposes a rule change at the 2002 AGM in Morocco to make team uniforms in national colours compulsory.