It’s an idea that would spice up professional tennis.

2025 Australian Open - Day 8

Coco Gauff has responded to Novak Djokovic. (Image: Getty)

Coco Gauff has endorsed a revolutionary idea from Novak Djokovic to make professional tennis more entertaining for fans. Both players are currently in the midst of their Australian Open campaigns, and while out in Melbourne the Serbian raised eyebrows by voicing a new idea.

The 37-year-old called for the sport to make itself more attractive to the younger generation.

And his own idea is to give spectators a show between sets, similar to the half-time theatrics performed during the Super Bowl and NBA matches.

Despite misgivings over whether the timescale of tennis matches could allow for the idea, Gauff has now seemingly embraced the proposal. “I mean, it’s a great suggestion if we had like a real half-time like other sports do,” she said.

Novak Djokovic challenges a heckler in testy second-round win at Australian Open - The Globe and Mail

“I think the issue is that we only have a minute, which I honestly think that our changeovers should be a little bit longer here, because by the time you walk to your seat, it’s only 45 seconds. But that’s another thing.

“I guess it really depends on how long you want the show to go on. I don’t think it will be as much as like NFL where it’s like an actual 15-minute half-time. That would be maybe too long.”

Gauff also gave an idea of the type of entertainment that could be offered to spectators, adding: “Maybe hire some street performers. Do a little quick 90-second routine, something like that.”

The 20-year-old described the words of the 24-time Grand Slam champion as “interesting” and admitted the comments took her by surprise. But Djokovic is not the first icon of late to call for changes in order to benefit younger fans.

TENNIS-AUS-ATP

Novak Djokovic wants changes to tennis. (Image: Getty)

In November, the legendary Billie Jean King called for a sweeping change to the scoring system that would see the traditional numbers of 15, 30 and 40 scrapped. Instead, the 81-year-old argued the numbers one, two, three and four would help children understand the game better.

Furthermore, King called for tennis to follow the examples of football and rugby to make players more identifiable. “I would like to see names and numbers on the back of the shirt in tennis,” she said.

Djokovic will get further opportunities to voice his new ideas Down Under. On Sunday, the seventh seed booked his place in the quarter-finals by beating Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 7-6.