'If we're both fit enough, why not?' Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal reaffirm Paris Olympic doubles hopes in Madrid

Shot clock in Melbourne and intent of 16 seeds in Grand Slams in 2019 : pic.twitter.com/vugFNBzFVs
— Carole Bouchard 💜💛 (@carole_bouchard) November 21, 2017

If there's one thing tennis fans love, it's arguing about hypothetical rule changes. Well, the Grand Slam Board announced some actual rule changes on Tuesday, and, naturally, Tennis Twitter chimed in.

First on the list of amendments is that--at the 2018 Australian Open--instead of a 20-second rule between points that's rarely enforced, there will be a "strict" 25-second shot clock.

Also, warm-ups will last five minutes, with a potential $20,000 fine for violating.

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I already know the greatest tennis rivalry of 2018:
Nadal vs Shot Clock
— Robyn Brailey (@robynbrailey) November 21, 2017

Next, in light of some low-quality first-round matches at Wimbledon this year, players who withdraw right before a tournament will get half their first-round prize money, wth the lucky loser getting the other half. This aims to prevent injured competitors from playing bad matches just so they can collect their ~$50,000.

Relatedly, any player who retires or "performs below professional standards" in the first round may have to forfeit their prize money.

New Rules Thoughts: I like the Lucky Loser rules, hopefully players that are not fit to play will withdraw and take the half prize money. I do not like fewer seeds.
— Jakub Bobro (@bobrojakub) November 21, 2017

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Last, for 2019, the Grand Slams "intend to revert to 16 seeds." This means the top seed could draw the would-be 17th seed in the first round.

That was the real controversy.

Does the 16 seed dance. Hooray for increased anarchy..
— FootSoldiersofTennis (@FSOTennis) November 22, 2017

November 2017: "OMG 16 SEEDS YAY"

January 2019: Venus-Serena, Garbine-Maria, Nick-Rafa & Roger-Kei in the first round of the AO. pic.twitter.com/hgQjd01HDm
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) November 21, 2017

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Going back to 16 seeds at Slams is great if you miss open pockets of draws that lead to lopsided later rounds, and players who found those soft routes having inflated rankings the whole next 52 weeks. Yay?
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) November 21, 2017

Overall, reactions to the moves were mixed.

I love 16 seeds at Slams, shot clocks and reducing incentive for players to play injured and retire halfway through.

Well done, tennis.
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) November 21, 2017

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World No. 10 CoCo Vandeweghe had the strongest public opinion (thus far):

I must have missed the players vote on this. Another example of no voice for the players. I don’t mind the 16 seeds and the withdrawals, but the shot clock and the time during and after warm up I’m not a fan of. https://t.co/Wwx7cUgfzP
— CoCo Vandeweghe (@CoCoVandey) November 21, 2017