The International Tennis Federation finally looks ready to budge on its decades-old insistence that Davis Cup matches be played to the death over five sets - even if the contests stretch on into perceived infinity.
"The idea is that from next year's Davis Cup we will introduce a tie-break in the fifth set. We'll decide soon," ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti told the Argentine newspaper La Nacin.
The tipping point for the radical, by ITF standards, decision seems to be a nearly seven-hour spectacular won by Argentine Leonardo Mayer over Brazilian Joao Souza in the first round last month in Buenos Aires.
That match "will have an unexpected consequence: an end to the endless parties, goodbye to Davis marathon," said the newspaper.
Italy's Ricci Bitti appears to be supported by his Spanish off-sider Juan Margets, vice chairman of the Davis Cup, but the shakeup must be approved by the ITF general assembly in September in Chile.
The change could take effect for the 2016 competition at the world-wide men's team event.
"Four years ago everyone told me 'no, no, no', but now all agree," said Margets, bidding to take over Ricci Bitti's job when the Italian retires later this year.
Ricci Bitti has vowed to "end the tradition" of the everlasting Davis Cup rubber.
Mayer beat Souza 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 5-7 and 15-13, with the winner being taken to hospital in an ambulance after his extraordinary exertion.
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