[ad_1]
Someday after Andy Murray went ballistic about Stefanos Tsitsipas’ propensity to take lengthy restroom breaks in the midst of tennis matches, Alexander Zverev continued the pile-on Tuesday and stated Tsitsipas’ techniques had been paying homage to one thing you’d see in junior tennis, not the professional ranks.
“It is occurring each match. It isn’t regular,” stated Zverev, who beat American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to start his U.S. Open. “It occurred to me within the French Open, to Novak (Djokovic) within the finals on the French Open. You recognize, I believe in Hamburg in opposition to (Filip) Krajinovic he was complaining, in opposition to me in Cincinnati was ridiculous, and now right here once more. I believe gamers are catching up on that.
Tsitsipas, the No. 3 seed, left the courtroom for roughly eight minutes earlier than the fifth set of his first-round match in opposition to Murray on Monday. Murray, who complained that the period of time brought on him to lose adrenaline and stiffen up, instantly had his serve damaged and misplaced the deciding set 6-4. After the match, he stated he had misplaced respect for Tsitsipas and referred to as on tennis to do one thing about gamers who abuse the rule that enables gamers to take restroom breaks or name for medical timeouts.
Zverev had been in the same place on Aug. 21 within the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. After profitable the primary set 6-4, Tsitsipas took his bag into the restroom with him, presumably to vary into dry garments.
However in the course of the prolonged break, Zverev accused Tsitsipas of taking his cellphone into the restroom and texting together with his father/coach Apostolos, which might be a violation of ATP guidelines. Tsitsipas denied that he’s ever achieved something like that when requested Monday evening, however Zverev doubled down when requested about it Tuesday.
“He is gone for 10-plus minutes. His dad is texting on the cellphone. He comes out, and swiftly his tactic utterly modified,” Zverev stated. “It isn’t simply me however all people noticed it. The entire sport plan adjustments.
“Both it is a very magical place he goes to or there may be communication there. However I additionally do not wish to disrespect him. He is a good participant. He’s No. 3 on the earth for a motive. He is profitable tournaments and taking part in unimaginable tennis this yr for a motive, so it is not solely that. However I do consider, and Andy stated it, as nicely, there may be some stage of respect that everyone must have between gamers. I really feel like, yeah, typically – or he may simply go to the bathroom. We do not know that. That is additionally potential. Nevertheless it simply occurs too usually, I’d say.”
Although Zverev stated Tsitsipas’ actions violate an “unwritten rule” between gamers, Tsitsipas has maintained that he’s solely utilizing that point to vary garments. And there are some gamers who agree with him.
After beating Soonwoo Kwon within the first spherical, American Reilly Opelka stated with the new and humid situations, plus the physicality of the tennis, it’s not stunning that gamers want a while to vary into dry garments throughout an extended match.
“To alter or to go after, you already know, two units we’re ingesting, we’re hydrating so much, we’ve to make use of the lavatory,” he stated. “To alter my socks, footwear, my inserts in my footwear, shorts, shirt, every thing, the entire 9 yards, hat, it takes 5, six minutes. Then by the point I stroll to and from the courtroom.
“If individuals do not perceive that, then clearly they’ve by no means spent a day within the lifetime of an expert athlete or come near it.”
[ad_2]
Source link
