SportBusiness.com

ATP NAMES DOUBLES COMMISSIONER

Gayle Bradshaw, vice president of rules & competition, has been named Doubles Commissioner to oversee and implement the changes to ATP doubles in 2006.

Bradshaw has worked at the ATP, the governing body for men's professional tennis, in various roles since 1990.

He will serve as chairman of the ATP Doubles Promotion Committee, whose members will be named soon.

The changes to doubles include a new scoring format featuring two sets to 6 (tie-break at 6:6), no-ad games and a match tie-break (first to 10 points, win by two) at one-set all.

The new format, with its predictable length and unique scoring features, aims to provide for better scheduling and more showcasing on feature courts, so as to be more appealing to broadcasters and sponsors.

It also is hoped to attract more singles players.