London, November 23 (BUS) – The ATP has sent strict new guidelines on toilet breaks during matches to players after growing calls to make long visits to the bathroom a thing of the past.
The ATP guidelines, seen by Reuters, will limit bathroom breaks to one per game, lasting no more than three minutes from the time a player enters the facility.
Players on the ATP and WTA tours have been regularly accused of using bathroom breaks as tactical weapons at critical junctures in matches, Reuters reports.
Andy Murray has accused Stefanos Tsitsipas of cheating at this year’s US Open after the Greek disappeared out of court at various times during a first-round marathon match.
The third seed took a long toilet break at the end of the second set, a medical break after the third set and nearly eight minutes at the conclusion of the fourth set.
In his next match, Tsitsipas went into the locker room for more than seven minutes after losing the third set, and was taunted by Arthur Ashe Stadium fans on his return.
Tsitsipas argued that he did not break any rules, which is why the ATP decided to act, although some may feel the new guidelines are still insufficient.
Although toilet breaks will be limited to three minutes, players will also be allowed two minutes to change their clothes.
Players will be limited to one toilet break per match and only allowed at the end of the group.
If a player spends too much time in the bathroom, he will be subject to time violations.
The ATP is also looking into new medical time limit rules by which players are only allowed one three-minute time in each match taken during a designated change or break only.