Stefanos Tsitsipas’s lengthy toilet breaks at US Open attract widespread criticism

Andy Murray misplaced respect for him however that didn’t cease Stefanos Tsitsipas from taking one other prolonged lavatory break throughout his newest match on the US Open.

After dropping the third set tie-break towards Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, the third seed disappeared for eight minutes earlier than returning to take the following set 6-0 to maneuver into the third spherical.

“That break helped me refresh myself as I love to do,” Tsitsipas stated.

“It is good for me to be much less sweaty, really feel contemporary and begin a brand new set with a contemporary mindset and recalibrate myself. You carry much less weight on you with all of the sweat.

“I comply with the principles, I did not break something, there’s a rule for that that does not actually specify the time that it’s a must to spend within the lavatory.”

Mannarino stated the tennis governing our bodies needed to change their system, which presently permits gamers to take one break in best-of-three matches and two breaks in best-of-five matches, however doesn’t specify how lengthy the breaks need to be.

“He isn’t doing something incorrect, I feel the principles are incorrect; the ATP, ITF ought to take into consideration perhaps altering the principles about these lengthy breaks,” he stated.

Serena Williams’s long-time coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, has been within the Tsitsipas camp at Flushing Meadows and stated the Greek star was not attempting to get a bonus over his opponents.

“Rafa [Nadal] takes a number of time between the serves, he does not try this to harass the opponent, he does it as a result of it is good for him,” he informed ESPN.

“Andy [Murray] takes a number of time between the primary and the second serve. Gamers do what is sweet for them, they do not do it to harass the opposite gamers.”

Murray said the medical timeout and bathroom breaks that Tsitsipas took throughout their first-round match had been tactical.

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“I’ve zero time for that stuff in any respect and I misplaced respect for him … I feel it is nonsense and he is aware of it as nicely,” Murray stated.

Tsitsipas returned serve by declaring the Scot had visited the lavatory when it was two units all throughout his victory over Novak Djokovic within the 2012 US Open closing.

“Are you able to please look it up and let me know subsequent time?” Tsitsipas stated to reporters at his post-match media convention.

Tsitsipas was booed by the group when he returned from his break within the match towards Mannarino.

“I really like the followers however some folks do not perceive, that is all. They have not performed tennis at a excessive degree,” the French Open finalist stated.

This didn’t wash with Australian commentator, coach and former Davis Cup participant Darren Cahill.

World quantity 4 Alexander Zverev stated Tsitsipas was exchanging textual content messages together with his coach and father Apostolos throughout a toilet break of their current semi-final on the Cincinnati Masters.

“The entire sport plan modifications, it is a very magical place that he goes to or there may be communication there,” Zverev stated.

Even a few of Tsitsipas’s supporters consider an eight-minute lavatory go to is extreme.

“It is most likely too lengthy. The ATP has to make a rule so it is three minutes, 5 minutes and all of the gamers are going to stay to that,” Mouratoglou stated.

However till that occurs, the 22-year previous can be heading off-court when the necessity arises.

“Some gamers take as we all know way more than 25 seconds between factors,” he stated.

“I haven’t got something towards any participant and I by no means complain of what different gamers do.

“My dad and mom have taught me to not watch different folks’s enterprise and focus on myself.

“Everyone has their very own time, I try to be as fast as I can, typically I simply want a bit extra time.”