Following the success of the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in 2017, the second edition of the tournament, held 6-10 November, 2018, continued to feature many of the successful innovations that debuted in 2017.

Towel Rack, Video Review Among New Innovations For Milan

-    Shorter Format: First to Four games sets (Tie-Break at 3-All), Best-of-Five sets, with No-Ad scoring

•   Shorter set format designed to increase number of pivotal moments in a match, while the best-of-five set format does not alter the number of games required to win a match (12) from the traditional scoring format, and No-Ad scoring.

-    Shorter Warm-Up

•   Matches begin precisely four minutes from the second player walk-on.

-    Shot Clock

•   A shot clock is used in between points to ensure strict regulation of the 25-second rule, as well as during set breaks, Medical Time-Outs, and the four-minute countdown from the player walk-on to the first point of the match.

-    No-Let Rule

•   The No-Let rule is applied to serves, bringing in an additional element of unpredictability at the start of points.
•   This rule removes any ambiguity over let calling from umpires, ensuring the rule is consistent with normal ‘let’ occurrences during regular point exchanges.

-    Medical Time-Outs

•   A limit of one medical time out per player per match.

-    Player Coaching

 •   Players and coaches can communicate at certain points in the match, providing additional content and entertainment value for broadcast. Coaches will not be allowed on-court.

-   Towel Rack

 •   Players are instructed to use a towel rack at the back of the court to remove the onus on ball kids to handle towels.

-   'Free Movement' Policy

 •   A ‘free movement’ policy is applied to the crowd (except behind the baselines) throughout the tournament. The policy enables fans to move freely in and out of the stadium during matches, providing a relaxed fan-friendly atmosphere and ensuring fans are not restricted entry into the stadium at any time.

-   Video Review

 •   At the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals, for the first time in men’s professional tennis, video review was available to further analyse judgement calls from the chair umpire, including the following incidents: double bounces; foul shots, such as a double hit or a carry; touches – when the ball might skim a racquet or clothing; and invasion – when the player, or anything he's wearing or carrying, makes contact with the opponent's side of the court while the ball is in play. Players were able to challenge any such calls.