Girls: US Open Juniors - Grade A (Week 36)

korriban · Challenger level

RE: Girls: US Open Juniors - Grade A (Week 36)

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah sorry, I believe I am mixing up toilet breaks with "proper" MTOs.

Still kind of leaves the question of how to deal with a player needing to go, but being refused, because of a limitation to after one set or whatever.

The forfeit if exceed "proper" MTO quota still seems OTT in my view. Maybe say a two game penalty.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

But toilet breaks are only allowed at the end of a set are they not?

RJA · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
But you still have to officially request it, so that you are accompanied (and not coached or anything else), which is mandatory. And I believe that it will still count as an official toilet break and so have to be before your own serve.

Not sure about the women's tour but at a men's futures you can leave the court at the change of ends. You still have to be accompanied but it doesn't count as an official toilet break because you have to be back in time for the next game or you will get a time violation.

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 8th of September 2013 05:21:18 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
But you still have to officially request it, so that you are accompanied (and not coached or anything else), which is mandatory. And I believe that it will still count as an official toilet break and so have to be before your own serve.
Not sure about the women's tour but at a men's futures you can leave the court at the change of ends. You still have to be accompanied but it doesn't count as an official toilet break because you have to be back in time for the next game or you will get a time violation.

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 8th of September 2013 05:21:18 PM

Are you sure ? I thought that had changed -wouldn't swear to it though.

The rule book says:

x. Leaving the Court

(a) A Player shall not leave the court area during a match
(including warm up) without the permission of the Chair
Umpire or Supervisor/Referee.

(b) Violation of this Section shall subject a Player to a fine up
to $3, for each violation. In addition, the Player may
be defaulted and shall be subject to the additional penalties
for Failure to Complete Match.

I can't find the reasons/guidelines for whether permission is granted or nor. I thought you couldn't now. Maybe the ATP and WTA are different though . . .

PS sorry, this was before your edit. I'm not sure about the futures, for men or women (not 100% sure about any of it either). There was a great recent article in the US showing that practically none of the players knew the rules either :

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2013/03/12/top-players-dont-know-the-rules-bnp-paribas-open/1980117/

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Sunday 8th of September 2013 05:26:58 PM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

johnnylad wrote:
But toilet breaks are only allowed at the end of a set are they not?

No. I believe that you can request a toilet break whenever you want but that it has to be before your own serve. (This bit was changed after the 'scandal' when Federer took a toilet break because the sun was in the wrong position and he wanted it to set a few more inches before he continued).

There's talk of applying the same rule to medical time-outs (i.e. only before you serve) but it's not it place yet.

RJA · Hall of fame

You can also leave the court during change of ends so if the toilets are close you can probably manage it, easier for us guys obviously.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

But you still have to officially request it, so that you are accompanied (and not coached or anything else), which is mandatory. And I believe that it will still count as an official toilet break and so have to be before your own serve.

Of course, one solution could be like in the Ana Ivanovic game in Austria. She served the first game, won it, felt sick, asked for a bathroom break, the umpire said no, she didn't understand, went anyway and he docked her a point for every 20 seconds she was 'unauthorised' to be off the court.
She came back on to find she'd lost 4 points, i.e. one game, and it was now 1-1.

However, she didn;t fuss and carried on and won easily, and just siad it was a miscommunication.

If players had to 'buy' their toilet breaks (that weren't in between sets) with points then they'd only take them when genuinely there was a major issue.

(blogs.bettor.com/Ivanovic-penalised-for-bathroom-break,-still-takes-the-match-away-a34397)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

for the REALLY keen, this is from the WTA 2013 rule book:

D. TOILET/CHANGE OF ATTIRE BREAKS

A player is allowed to request permission to leave the court for a reasonable
time for a toilet break/change of attire break. These breaks
may be taken for toilet visits, change of attire or both, but for no other
reason.

PLAYERS
1. Number and Nature of Breaks Allowed
a. Singles
Each player is entitled to a maximum of two (2) breaks per match.
A player may change her attire during a toilet break, if taken on a
set break.
b. Doubles
Each team is entitled to a maximum of two (2) breaks per match.
If partners leave the court together, it counts as one (1) of the
teams authorized breaks.
Any time a player leaves the court for a toilet or change of attire
break, it is considered one (1) of the authorized breaks, regardless
of whether or not the players opponent has left the court.

2. Timing of Breaks
A player may not take a toilet break/change of attire break and a
Medical Time Out consecutively, unless approved by the
Referee/Supervisor.
a. Change of Attire Breaks
Change of attire breaks must be taken on a set break.
b. Toilet Breaks
Toilet breaks should be taken on a set break. However, if a toilet
break is taken during a set, it must be taken before the players
own service game. If the player has been authorized to leave the
court before her opponents service game or during her own service
game once started, then the player is leaving the court on her
own time and will be penalized with back-to-back Time Violations
until the earlier of the time she returns to play, is due to serve, or
the score reaches a set break.
Any toilet break taken after a warm up has started is considered
one (1) of the authorized breaks. Additional breaks will be authorized
but will be penalized in accordance with the Point Penalty
Schedule if the player is not ready to play within the allowed time.

3. Denial of a Player Request
The Referee and/or Supervisor shall have the authority to deny a player
permission to leave the court during a match for a toilet break if it is
interpreted by the Referee and/or Supervisor as gamesmanship and/or
flagrant abuse of the Rules.

4. Abuse of Rule
Players will be penalized in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule
for any abuse of this rule. (See Officials and Officiating Section
XVII.A.21; see also Supervisor XVII.B.1.)

DavidC · Tennis legend

A very tight final which went to a third set tiebreak. Tornado led 5-3, Ana won the next 3 points, and won it on her second matchpoint 3-6 6-4 7-6(6) to ensure a Croatian double. Belinda Bencic will remain number 1 though

The Czech 'Bryans' duly won the doubles without losing a set again