Timeouts in tennis? Players and captains will be able to call them during United Cup mixed doubles matches

Move over, basketball: ATP and WTA players and captains will soon be able to call their own timeouts during mixed doubles matches at the upcoming United Cup.

New for 2025, the innovative mixed-gender tennis team competition's third year, teams will be able to call for one 60-second mid-match break to discuss tactics and confer strategy, the tournament said this week in a media release, "adding excitement and drama to the already crucial mixed doubles match."

Either a player or captain will have the opportunity to call their 60-second timeout by pressing a red buzzer located in each team's bench area, the Team Zone. Affording them another opportunity outside to confer of the traditional change of ends, timeouts can only be called when the captain or player’s team is serving, and may not be used between first and second serves.

Teams will have 25 seconds to resume play following the timeout.

“Timeouts initiate a pause in play, it’s a time for teams to discuss tactics and strategy and potentially change the momentum of a match,” United Cup tournament director Stephen Farrow said. “We’re excited to see how the best tennis players in the world and their teams utilize this new tool."

“Innovation is at the core of everything we do at the United Cup and this is another example of leading the way and finding new ways to present the sport and engage our fans.”

United Cup begins on Dec. 27 and runs through Jan. 5, and Tennis Channel, its app, website and second-network T2 will be the exclusive U.S. homes of the competition.