Before 3rd set 10-point tie break, guy took a 7 minute water break

[IA-SteveB]

Originally Posted by directionals

Well, I don't really care what my opponent does as long as he comes back within 2 minutes. If he wants to go to the bathroom, go ahead. Wanna get a drink from McDonald's? Sure. But you'd better be back in 2 minutes.

Let's just hope he washed his hands for the post match handshake. Give him 2:15 for that.

[tennis tom]

Maybe the water fountain far off was broken and he had to filter his own urine to quench his thirst, that takes time. I hear drinking one's own urine can be done and may even have therapeutic effects, but haven't experimented myself, just seen about it on those survivor man shows. I don't know if it would be against USTA or ITF rules, like blood doping or prohibited drugs, but I guess they could do a urine test for it. Now that would be ironic or wouldn't it. Maybe this belongs in it's own thread? I'll check with the mods.

BTW, where can I get some of those Babolat Roddick USO, red white and blue shoes with the stars in 11.5 or 12's? They are out everywhere and I'd like to have some for President's Day or Fourth of July.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Rjtennis

I thought the same...that's crazy!

Yep, it's crazy but true.

The rule used to say that taking a bathroom break during the last 15 minutes of a timed match was an automatic default.

This was deemed too harsh (and honestly, it is IMHO because many people have issues that mean they simply must use the bathroom when they must use it). So now the rule says the break can be taken and it "encourages" the opponent to accompany the player.

You don't have to go and watch them tinkle, but you can if you want. I suppose the real reason for the suggestion is to discourage anyone from doing anything else besides taking a bathroom break.

[Delano]

Hey Woodrow, hoping you can answer another question...

Is there any limit to the number of bathroom breaks allowed (kind of like injury time-outs), or would this also fall under the official's call as to what is "reasonable"?

EDIT: I asked woodrow, but of course anyone who knows feel free to chime in here.

[woodrow1029]

USTA rules don't set a maximum number of bathroom breaks; however, the book says something like an official can deny a bathroom break if he feels that the request is due to gamesmanship. Very hard to enforce.

[SwankPeRFection]

It's been my experience that even at state playoffs the rules aren't always enforced. Usually someone will complain about something and then something might happen, but in the end it's nothing more than the loser complaining about losing due to something that shouldn't have happened. Nice guys finish last. Next time, make a big deal out of it when they come back and get them annoyed so they mess up in the tiebreak.

Honestly, if you've split sets and instead of a 3rd set it's a 10 point tiebreak, that should be played without any delay. Whatever momentum the second set winner had will wash away if there's an excessive break there. The 2nd set winner usually knows this and that's why they do it.

Had a guy once during Flex Mixed pull this bathroom break move, except that the clouds were rolling in and we knew we'd have maybe 5 minutes to finish that 10 point tiebreak before the rains came. Guess what. Dude took so long the rains started after playing 1 point. We had to walk away and postpone the match to finish another day because of it. Luckily, turns out just down the street at another set of courts we sometimes use it was dry, so we called his partner up and told them to show back up and we'd finish that day. Needless to say, we won the tiebreak since the guy was all frazzled it went down like that. He didn't argue, but he wasn't happy either. Somehow, I know deep down he knew he was just as wrong to pull the bathroom break thing when he knew we were expecting rain any moment. To this day I haven't seen this guy pull that kind of move anymore. I guess he learned his lesson.

[cork_screw]

Who cares, 7 mins isn't long. I've taken breaks like that and I had no intent on stalling, it just takes time to walk over to a fountain and it takes additional time to drink and walk back. The fact you timed him is more weird than him "cheating."

[SystemicAnomaly]

Originally Posted by cork_screw

Who cares, 7 mins isn't long. I've taken breaks like that and I had no intent on stalling, it just takes time to walk over to a fountain and it takes additional time to drink and walk back. The fact you timed him is more weird than him "cheating."

It's one thing to take your sweet time for an informal match with your buddies but quite another during official competition. Did you miss the harsh criticism/backlash Vika received for her extended break during a match against Sloane Stephens at the recent AO? There are rules & guidelines that should be followed during USTA league matches just as there are during pro matches.

Did you read the OP? It sounded like that "7 minutes" was a guess-timation rather than a stopwatch reading? Remind me never to play a match with you on a cold night. My old bones couldn't handle the 7 minute water breaks. Perhaps you could drop hints that you could use a water bottle for your next birthday.

[Delano]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

USTA rules don't set a maximum number of bathroom breaks; however, the book says something like an official can deny a bathroom break if he feels that the request is due to gamesmanship. Very hard to enforce.

Thanks for the reply, that's what I figured.

I took a look at "friend of the court", which confirms what you said for USTA. Interesting bit on college ball, though...

Bathroom breaks. A player must ask an official for a designated “bathroom break.” The official may refuse this request if he determines that the player is resorting to gamesmanship. Division I women are allowed reasonable time for bathroom breaks and should take them on a 90-second changeover or set break. If a player is able to take a bathroom break during the 90-second changeover, this is permitted in addition to the bathroom breaks described above.

No bathroom breaks in Men’s Division I Tennis. No bathroom breaks shall be permitted in Men’s Division I Tennis. Men will have 90 seconds during the changeover to use the bathroom. After 90 seconds, the player will be subject to time violation penalties (Warning, Point, Point, etc.) If no bathroom is available within a reasonable distance from the courts, it is the responsibility of the coaches and the Referee to determine prior to the start of the match, how much time may be allowed. If a bathroom break is necessary for
medical problems, the break is to be treated as a medical timeout.

Wow, 90 seconds. You better run.

So that pretty much confirms what you said about USTA play, and I agree, it sounds difficult to enforce this rule. I think the rules make a stronger assumption of good sportsmanship in a purely recreational league.

As for the original question... a one time 7 minute bathroom or water break doesn't sound especially outrageous. I wasn't there, of course, but while I've seen some pretty egregious gamesmanship around the bathroom rule, this particular episode doesn't sound like it. If this was a one-time deal, my guess would be that the guy was trying to minimize the disruption by taking it after the completion of the set.

[Govnor]

So basically, you need to take a medical time out if you need a S^!t!!! haha

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by Govnor

So basically, you need to take a medical time out if you need a S^!t!!! haha

Or you could learn to isht before the match like everyone else.

[Bergboy123]

Heck, I had a guy do that too. He'd take approximately 3-5 minute break on every changeover, felt like 10 every time. Then before the match tiebreaker he did the same thing but longer since it was "after the set." Get this though.. at 6 total points DURING the tiebreaker he did the same thing, 3-4 minute break. What the hell??

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I have a tennis contract in the winter. We used to play on court 5, the farthest from the lobby. One of our players "needs" to pee every 6-8 games so he would slip out the side door and be back in 30 seconds.

When some nieghbors of the club complained about this old man peeing outside on Sunday mornings he had to start running all the way to the lobby every 6-8 games.

Since then we moved our contract to the "show" court becasue that one is closest to the bathrooms. Apparently that is easier than getting your protrate checked.

[omega4]

Originally Posted by directionals

ok, I played a USTA match. Our scores were close and the 2nd set went to a tie break which I won. Before we started our 3rd set 10-point tiebreak, he took a water break for like 6-7 minutes. The water fountain was in the other end of the club, but still it shouldn't have taken him this long. During his water break, I kept walking in the court to keep my legs warm. Well, long story short, I had small cramps in the tiebreak and lost the match.

I guess you know what my question is by now - is a player allowed a long water break after a set?

Unreasonable or unfair? Possibly.

But I think only you have control over your state of physical shape.

I usually didn't let those types of tricks bother me so much, as it wasn't like I was playing in a million dollar tournament.

[sureshs]

If water is at the other end of the club, it needs to be looked into. If I need water, I am not going to go sprinting to save time. If it takes 7 minutes to walk back and forth, and fill water, maybe with a guy already in front of me, then that is how it is. It is the club that needs to improve its facilities or be debarred from hosting USTA events.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by tennis tom

Maybe the water fountain far off was broken and he had to filter his own urine to quench his thirst, that takes time. I hear drinking one's own urine can be done and may even have therapeutic effects, but haven't experimented myself, just seen about it on those survivor man shows. I don't know if it would be against USTA or ITF rules, like blood doping or prohibited drugs, but I guess they could do a urine test for it. Now that would be ironic or wouldn't it. Maybe this belongs in it's own thread? I'll check with the mods.

BTW, where can I get some of those Babolat Roddick USO, red white and blue shoes with the stars in 11.5 or 12's? They are out everywhere and I'd like to have some for President's Day or Fourth of July.

He might have had to setup his own reverse osmosis plant for converting sea water to drinking water. Who knows.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

You don't have to go and watch them tinkle, but you can if you want.

How close are you allowed to get?

[fleabitten]

Originally Posted by Pbarrow

I would agree with this for rec level. In the "elder" leagues we have guys that have to take bathroom breaks in between sets all the time!

I guess I have shifted to the older side now. I seem to need a bathroom break during most long singles matches. I try to do it quickly (like jogging to the rest room), but no one has ever complained or even looked upset or unsettled by it.

[chatt_town]

I understand that to be the rules as well.

Originally Posted by Mongolmike

Just to be clear for my future reference, after the 2nd set ends and you are now going to start a match tiebreak, you ARE allowed a 3 minute (approximate) rest time, correct?

Then once the match tiebreak starts, you are not supposed to take a rest on side changeovers, not even to stop for a quick drink by your gear, correct? (But if both players are in agreement to grab a quick drink and towel-off... that is ok in the spirit of the game, correct?)

Also, a match tiebreak is like a new set in that for doubles either player can serve first and again in doubles you can now switch sides also, correct?

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by Mongolmike

Just to be clear for my future reference, after the 2nd set ends and you are now going to start a match tiebreak, you ARE allowed a 3 minute (approximate) rest time, correct?

Then once the match tiebreak starts, you are not supposed to take a rest on side changeovers, not even to stop for a quick drink by your gear, correct? (But if both players are in agreement to grab a quick drink and towel-off... that is ok in the spirit of the game, correct?)

Also, a match tiebreak is like a new set in that for doubles either player can serve first and again in doubles you can now switch sides also, correct?

Originally Posted by chatt_town

I understand that to be the rules as well.

The bolded part is not true, unless this is about juniors, or if we are talking leagues and your local rules are different.

In adult and wheelchair tournaments, it's just a 2 minute setbreak between 2nd set and match tiebreak.