Tennis Should Ban Bathroom Breaks, Timeouts and Arguing with Umps

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 20, 2011

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One of the biggest disappointments of my tennis-watching life was seeing arguably the best tennis player of all time, Roger Federer, take a bathroom break at this year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

After winning the first two sets, Federer, who had never lost a grand slam match, was feeling pressure because Tsonga had won the third and fourth sets. He reverted to a tactic many players use when they are about to lose. He went to the bathroom to disrupt Tsonga’s momentum and to stall for time.

Other players fake injuries and take bathroom breaks, but not Federer.

As much as I respect Federer and hoped to see him play Novak Djokovic in the next round, I quickly shifted my allegiance.

The bathroom charade didn’t work, and Federer’s subsequent loss to Tsonga seemed even more devastating because Federer had stooped to the level of players he had easily demolished in the past.

The ATP and WTA should put an end to unsportsmanlike antics. They should ban bathroom breaks, injury timeouts and arguing with the umpires.

Tennis already is perceived as a “sissy” sport because it is non-contact. Allowing immature behavior doesn’t help the image of professional tennis.

If a player is losing, he or she should accept defeat and not resort to bush league behavior in order to win.

Permitting players to work the system not only hurts tennis, but it also sets a terrible example for young players hoping to compete.

Currently, men and women are allowed two bathroom breaks in grand slams. That is one break too many.

The injury timeout is a joke and should not be allowed, period. It has become normal to see at least one injury timeout in a match.

Often players who are writhing in pain during an injury timeout manage to miraculously rally and show no signs of any physical problems when playing the ne...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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