The ATP have announced changes to the time violation penalty in the men's game.

Currently the rule is that the players receive a warning if they take too long between points. If the offence is committed for a second time then there is a point penalty for both the server and the receiver.

However, under the new guidelines, a warning will once again be initially issued.

The change will come after the second violation, where the penalty will be a fault for the server and a point for the receiver.

"There's been a lot of discussion about the amount of time taken between points," said ATP executive chairman and president Brad Drewett. "We believe this modification will give officials a useful tool and allow for more consistent enforcement of the current time violation rule."

The changes will take place at the start of 2013.