Memphis fans checking out women's doubles action this week will notice a big change. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is trialing an abbreviated format of the game that is already a permanent feature of the men's tour: a first-to-10 Match Tie-break instead of a third set and a 'sudden death' point at deuce. Memphis is the third tournament this year to participate in the trial, following Pattaya and Bangalore.

Veteran Australian player Nicole Pratt, who plays singles and doubles on the WTA Tour, won the Pattaya title under the new format and says that it is "a step in the right direction. For the women and the men we need to be united with what we do with the game of tennis, so it's natural we go that way too," she says.

Asked about the format she played under in Pattaya (where she won the title), Pratt said: "It changed the whole complexion to how you play a doubles match. Because I was playing singles as well I liked knowing I wasn't going to have to play three sets in doubles. You had to be more aggressive and there was more urgency to win the no-ad point. And in situations like at 40-15 you're thinking we've got three points to win the game.

"You still expect the better team to win, but potentially there is a little more luck involved on the no-ad point. The better teams who apply strategy to doubles will do well.

"As a player I found it a lot more exciting, and I figure the fans will too. The urgency of who is going to win a point to win the game creates a new scenario. And the match tie-break, knowing that there is going to be a result quickly - like a penalty shootout in soccer - makes it exciting."