The ATP revises the rule on bathroom breaks and limits their duration | LFM the radio

The ATP, which manages the men's professional tennis circuit, has confirmed that it has changed the rule on bathroom breaks during matches, now limited to a maximum of 5 minutes.

The new rule will come into effect from the 2022 season, after the controversies raised this year.

Thus, such a break will be "limited to a maximum of three minutes from the moment the player enters the toilet", with "an additional two minutes to change clothes", said an ATP spokesperson, confirming information from L'Equipe.

In addition, only one toilet break will be granted per match to each player and these breaks can only be taken between two sets.

Several incidents linked to these breaks, legal but with questionable sportsmanship, have marred the 2021 season. Twice at Roland-Garros, in the round of 16 against Lorenzo Musetti and in the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic took a long break off the court when trailing two sets to nil and turned the tables to his advantage on his return.

Tsitsipas also took such long breaks, including in the first round of the US Open where he ended up beating Andy Murray who said he lost "all respect" for the Greek following the incident.

This article has been published automatically. Sources: ats / afp