ATP to change toilet break rules

Long toilet breaks in matches could soon be a thing of the past after world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas was accused of abusing current rules at the US Open.

Tsitsipas took several bathroom breaks during there tournament – one that lasted nearly eight minutes during a back-and-forth match against Andy Murray.

Now the ATP is considering new rules rules regarding medical timeouts and bathroom interruptions.

“There will be a change to the rules for bathroom breaks and on-court medical timeouts as well,” an ATP source told reporters on Thursday.

“I hope that before the next season begins in January, we will have a stricter rule when it comes to toilet breaks and medical timeouts.”

The current rules state:

A player may request permission to leave the court for a reasonable time for a toilet break, a change of attire break, or both, but for no other reason.

Toilet breaks should be taken on a set break and change of attire breaks must be taken on a set break. In singles events a player is entitled to one (1) break during a best of three (3) set match and two (2) breaks during a best of five (5) set match.

Any toilet break taken after a warm-up has started is considered one of the authorised breaks. In all cases, the nearest assigned bathroom must be used. The player is expected to have needed attire available on court.

Additional breaks will be authorised but will be penalised in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule if the player is not ready to play within the allowed time. Any player abuse of this rule will be subject to penalty in accordance with the Unsportsmanlike Conduct section of the Code of Conduct.