Should tennis use a different court dimension? Markus Kaila from Tampere, Finland believes that the serve is too dominant and invented the model 3 court to battle "the raw serving power, lefty advantage and boredom in tennis"

Here's a discussion that we had with Mr. Markus Kaila, for a picture of what the model 3 tennis court looks like, along with more detailed background and explanation, click here

John says: hi Markus

Marcus says: Hello I'm Jari and Marcus is sitting next to me and I am his translator please any questions?

John says: Did Marcus invent the idea and court dimensions?

Marcus says: It's Markusīs idea

John says: Markus, do you play and if so, how long? what's your highest level

Marcus says: Yes I have been playing tennis since 1963, I have played just in veteran Finnish championship tournament, in men over 50 without success

John says: Have you played on a court with the new dimensions?

Marcus says: Yes

John says: OK, I would like to know which court is easier for you to serve, the new or the old?

Marcus says: The situation is different because the opponent could gain a bigger advantage in the second serve I have to be more careful with my first serve

John says: so you have to slow down your serve speed for the first serve?

Marcus says: I find that the first serve will increase 50..60% until 80..90%, because I have to be more careful getting into second service means also more difficulties for me as for everybody in the new court and ..
Marcus says: Yes, perhaps the serve will be slightly slower

John says: do you think it would slow down the serve speed in the pro game?

Marcus says: he must avoid to get into the second service at least against Agassi and in very important points...

John says: would there be more service breaks with the new dimension court?

Marcus says: of course that is actually the POINT

John says: Would you like to see the new court in the pro game and recreational players too?

Marcus says: Yes it's suitable for both and better for the beginners

John says: Do you think the pros or even your country's association will use the model 3?

Marcus says: They know this already in the ITF and our national association, my mission is to tell people about the more interesting way to play tennis. Tennis have problems.

John says: What are some of the problems you see with the sport?

Marcus says: Tennis is become more and more boring to watch because of the too important role of the serve and I find...

Marcus says: The serve is in the too dominating role as you know and therefore tennis is become "boring" and ...
Marcus says: I find that the lefties have too much advantage in this old system and..
Marcus says: and a the sport needs  fair rules for everybody

John says: what did the ITF tell you?

Marcus says: I'm quite sure that Finnish Association ( at least president) and ITF have discussed or e-mail on the matter

Marcus says: they push the responsibility to the Finnish Association and..
Marcus says: I wonder how ITF would response if Finland don't have a tennis association

Marcus says: For example so that Finland is so minor tennis country that It's not worth to try anything big like this

John says: Have you ever thought about holding a tournament only on model 3 courts?

Marcus says: In Finland it is hard to arrange tournament without Association support

John says: Do you have any teaching pros that you can get to play
John says: on the model 3?

Marcus says: Many teachers in my little town of 150000 people living in the area have find it a good idea
Marcus says: "but ........"
Marcus says: "it's impossible to change the rule of tennis"
Marcus says: many have seen my "basic" text but they perhaps don't bother to think it really and...

John says: You need to do it yourself, if you believe in your model 3, start small, get enough people to play on it and the momentum will build.
John says: The pros are right, to change the rules of an established sport is almost impossible, especially on the level that you are headed.

Marcus says: they don't see any reward of all this trouble although tennis can be bigger and "rewards" would follow..

John says: But you can build a new sport, model 3 tennis, before you know it, the popularity will grow and the powers that be will have to deal with your idea.

Marcus says: New sport???? after the second hit nothing changes!

John says: Maybe not a new sport, but maybe modern tennis or something like that. Regular people like things that are new. 

John says: You'll have to find a way around them from the outside.
John says: Perhaps the USTA will take a look at it when I post it.
John says: how can the readers contact you with questions about model 3?

http://www.helsinki.fi/~jpheikki/3malli