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As the great New York comedian Jerry Seinfeld would say, “What has all these bath breaks got to do?”
Just two days at the 2021 US Open, the topic of discussion is not entirely focused on the work of the court. The biggest topic, instead, is what happens when a player leaves the field.
It all started on day 1, when Andy Murray and StefanosTsitsipas took part in a five-series thriller where Greek Seed No. 3 took a long bathroom break before the final fifth-series series. The break came after Tsitsipas had a medical timeout that Murray found a little suspicious.
“It’s just disappointing because I feel like it affected the outcome of the match,” Murray said. “I’m not saying I’ll definitely win that match, but it had an effect on what happened after the break.”
TSITSIPAS: Murray lost his respect Zverev adds fuel
Murray talked more about playing skills, but Alexander Zverev, who has a history with Tsitsipas on Tuesday, went a little further and suggested he was betrayed while in the bathroom.
“He’s been away for more than 10 minutes; his father is sending text messages on the phone. He’s coming out, and suddenly his tactics changed completely. It’s not just me, but everyone saw it,” he said after winning the first round. Sam Querrey. “The whole game plan changes. Either it’s a magical place he goes or there’s communication.”
Once the initial warm-ups begin, coaching is strictly prohibited and can result in fines and penalties of up to $ 20,000 under the point penalty program.
So what exactly is going on here? Is there a background here and what are the rules? Sporting News takes an in-depth look at the confusing toilet controversy at Billie Jean King’s National Tennis Center.
What is the tennis bathroom break rule?
According to the official Grand Slam Code of 2021, the rule is as follows:
A player may request permission to leave the court for a reasonable period of time for a toilet break, a dress break, or both, but for no other reason.
Toilet breaks must be taken during the series break and dressing steps must be taken during the series break. In singles, the player is entitled to one (1) break during the top three (3) rounds and two (2) breaks during the top five (5) rounds.
A toilet break after heating is considered one of the permitted breaks. In all cases, the nearest designated bathroom must be used. The player is expected to need clothes on the field.
Additional breaks are allowed, but will be penalized according to the point penalty program if the player is not ready to play within the allowed time. Abuse of this rule by players will be penalized in accordance with the unsportsmanlike conduct section of the Code of Conduct.
It should also be noted that the line referee is expected to accompany the player when they leave the field “to ensure that the player does not use the break for any other purpose”. They have to report any breaches of the rules, but of course there is a line about how far they are likely to go to check.
There is also no time for a bath break. It is clear that the location of the court affects the duration. Courts outside Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums may not have an easily accessible bathroom, which would lead to longer downtime.
Why is the length of time such a big deal?
As Murray noted, a long break affects a player’s body.
“Yeah, it just cools down a bit. … Apparently there’s a lot of adrenaline flowing in your body. Lose that kind of series (Murray lost the fourth batch 6-3) and then take a long break, adrenaline That’s how it feels, just feels a little flat,” Murray said in his press expecting a long break from his opponent.
“The longer the match lasts, for example, seven, 10 minutes after the end of the match, for example, you go to the locker room and sit down a little, you also start to stiffen a little. Certainly at my age, maybe not when I was in my twenties.”
Why is everyone angry with Tsitsipas?
“It’s not so much getting out of the field. It’s time. I talked about it to my team before the match and said I’d wait for it, preparing for it if things didn’t go his way. So I tried to do it,” said senior statesman Murray, who is also on the players’ council.
Yeah, Tsitsipa is accused of taking gaming skills to a new level. Of course, players take a moment or a break or sometimes shout to break up the pace. And yes, a 23-year-old might take it to the extreme. The bigger problem, however, is to focus on the fact that he is also accused of betrayal.
At the Cincinnati Open just over a week ago, Zverev brought his extended toilet breaks to the chair judge during the duo’s semi-finals.
“He took his bag with his phone and everything in it,Zverev said as chairman of the judgeAdel Nour during an eight-minute break for a Greek player. This was the same thing in Paris and will be the same thing in all the other tournaments he plays. “(Zverev lost in five innings to Tsitsipas in Roland Garros’ semi – finals.)
Of course, Nour tried to crush it by saying he had an escort, as the rule required. But let’s be honest and as Zverev said, “He’s not going to take him to the bathroom.”
A broadcast in which Tsitsipas ’father wrote text messages while his son was on the field certainly didn’t help put out the fire.
An extended stop also occurred in his semi-final match with Flix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, where he took a 10-minute break.
“I don’t think it would be very nice if I change my shorts on the field in front of everyone,” Tsitsipas said after the loss to Zvereville in August. “I’d rather do it in the locker room, including socks and shoes.” I am a person who sweats a little more than others. I think that is acceptable. Some people teased me and mocked me, but it only works for me.
“People have to understand. I’m not going to stop doing that because it will make me feel better when I step on the field to start a new series.”
He reaffirmed his position after Andy Murray’s victory.
“I don’t think I’ve broken the rules. I played according to the instructions, how is everything … As long as I play by the rules and stick to what the ATP says is fair, the rest are fine,” he said before calling the scam controversy completely ridiculous. “.
US Open Round 2: Tsitsipas vs. Mannarino
As rain and wind rushed outside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night, Tsitsipas faced Italian Adrian Mannarino in the second round. After losing the third set in a draw (7-4), Tsitsipas did his job and took a bathroom break.
This time it was a seven-minute break during which the fans present rained boos towards the Greek player, who explained that he felt “rejuvenated” and “fresh” and lighter when he changed clothes.
Upon his return, he encouraged Mannarino to win in four installments.
Mannarino, for his part, had no problems with the break: “He’s not doing anything wrong, I think the rule is wrong.”
After his match, the front of the Mannarino-Tsitsipas night match, American Sloane Stephens, was asked about breaks.
“I can’t talk about what happened in that match, but I know on the girl’s side that there’s still a lot of it. It’s a game skill,” he said after winning Coco Gauff. “I think there definitely needs to be a rule or changes.”
When asked if there should be a tough time limit, he added: “I don’t think you should leave the field for six to eight minutes, for example, when it’s a long time to leave a match. It changes the whole situation. If you change your clothes, what do you change?
“I think again, a couple of years ago there was a rule that girls just could, it was like a three minute rule or something in the bathroom. If you’ve ever changed from a wet sports vest that I don’t think you have, you wouldn’t know how hard it is. But it’s maybe five minutes. When you get to six, seven, eight, nine minutes, okay, what are you doing there? Do you need help? I can come help. Like what’s going on? “
Of course, Tsitsipas ’own post-match press conference was full of questions about his breaks.
Q: The audience shouted again tonight when you came back. After talking to Andy and a few other players, did you think to go faster?
TSITSIPAS: Sure.
Q. You still went over seven minutes tonight with a break.
TSITSIPAS: I would like to know what the rule is?
Q. Regardless of the rule, you know that people are not happy.
TSITSIPAS: Yeah, but the rules have to be followed, right? If I break the rule, I am, of course, guilty. I agree, I’m not doing something right. If I stick to the instructions, what’s the problem?
I guess with people like Murray, you would say that there are unwritten rules for trying to respect your opponent’s time, and maybe they think you don’t respect that.
TSITSIPAS: I have a question for you. I don’t look at other people’s stuff. But I remember looking at it younger. Could you check when Andy Murray faced Novak Djokovic in the final here before the break of the fifth set, can you watch it and let me know next time?
QI did. It took him less than three minutes.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Less than three minutes, okay.
QI looked at it.
TSITSIPAS: Okay. So three minutes more difference?
Q. He thought so. The point is clearly that you are doing something that annoys your peers.
TSITSIPAS: Okay.
Q. Was it bothersome to hear the roar of the fans when you came back out?
TSITSIPAS: I haven’t done anything wrong, so I don’t understand. People love sports, they come to watch tennis. I have nothing against them. I love fans.
But some people don’t understand. That’s all. They don’t understand. They haven’t played tennis at a high level to understand how much effort and how hard it is to do what we do.
Sometimes we need a short break to do what we need to do.
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