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G.O.A.T.
Today's Wimbledon third round match between Jelena Ostapenko vs. Ajla Tomljanovic was just the latest example of a player abusing the MTO rule. The main difference is that Tomljanovic called out her opponent in front of the crowd and the umpire for obviously lying and faking an injury. As Tomljanovic was about to serve after breaking for a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, Ostapenko walked to her chair and asked the umpire for the trainer. She insisted that she couldn't continue due to an abdominal pull and could not wait until the next changeover. In the few points before her asking for the trainer, Ostapenko showed absolutely no visible signs of discomfort. None. She had lost six games on the bounce.
Immediately, Tomljanovic voiced her objection. "You know she's lying, right? We all know." She refused to sit down, even after the physio arrived to assess Ostapenko and umpire Fiona Edwards granted the three-minute MTO for off-court treatment. A supervisor was called at Tomljanovic's request, and the exchange continued. Almost 12 minutes after the last point had been played, the match continued. The MTO clock on the score board had run out. Umpire Edwards called "time" only after Ostapenko arrived back on court. Tomljanovic was immediately broken, but still managed to win the match in the end. For the final four games of the match, Ostapenko showed ZERO signs of an injury.
I think it's ridiculous (and impossible) that umpires are put into the position to have to assess the truthfulness of a player's assertion that he/she is actually injured. But it is clear that many players have used the MTO as a way to break up their opponent's rhythm, to regroup physically or emotionally, to stall, etc. Before the rules were changed, being injured during play fell under the banner of "loss of condition." Players either continued playing the match or retired. I think we should go back to the old system.
MTOs have become a joke. We've laughed about them for years, and most of us can accurately predict when one will be called. But it's more than that. It makes a mockery of our sport when we make stupid rules, refuse to enforce rules, or do not make changes when we clearly see rules being abused. It's a simple solution to end MTO abuse. Kill the MTO completely. That won't happen. The governing bodies are too weak. So here's an alternative: A trainer can only be called when you are about to serve.
1. If a trainer is called, the player is given a point penalty. So merely asking for the trainer gives the fit player a reward for having to put up with a delay because of his/her opponent's loss of condition. This should also begin to deter any fake calls for the physio.
2. If the trainer recommends treatment, the player can opt out. But if the player decides to take the three-minute MTO, that's a game penalty. There's an automatic game penalty any time a player takes the option to take a MTO or leaves the court (for a MTO or a bathroom break). Again, a reward for the player who has to suffer through the delay.
3. Any other delay or request for treatment results in a immediate default.
Immediately, Tomljanovic voiced her objection. "You know she's lying, right? We all know." She refused to sit down, even after the physio arrived to assess Ostapenko and umpire Fiona Edwards granted the three-minute MTO for off-court treatment. A supervisor was called at Tomljanovic's request, and the exchange continued. Almost 12 minutes after the last point had been played, the match continued. The MTO clock on the score board had run out. Umpire Edwards called "time" only after Ostapenko arrived back on court. Tomljanovic was immediately broken, but still managed to win the match in the end. For the final four games of the match, Ostapenko showed ZERO signs of an injury.
I think it's ridiculous (and impossible) that umpires are put into the position to have to assess the truthfulness of a player's assertion that he/she is actually injured. But it is clear that many players have used the MTO as a way to break up their opponent's rhythm, to regroup physically or emotionally, to stall, etc. Before the rules were changed, being injured during play fell under the banner of "loss of condition." Players either continued playing the match or retired. I think we should go back to the old system.
MTOs have become a joke. We've laughed about them for years, and most of us can accurately predict when one will be called. But it's more than that. It makes a mockery of our sport when we make stupid rules, refuse to enforce rules, or do not make changes when we clearly see rules being abused. It's a simple solution to end MTO abuse. Kill the MTO completely. That won't happen. The governing bodies are too weak. So here's an alternative: A trainer can only be called when you are about to serve.
1. If a trainer is called, the player is given a point penalty. So merely asking for the trainer gives the fit player a reward for having to put up with a delay because of his/her opponent's loss of condition. This should also begin to deter any fake calls for the physio.
2. If the trainer recommends treatment, the player can opt out. But if the player decides to take the three-minute MTO, that's a game penalty. There's an automatic game penalty any time a player takes the option to take a MTO or leaves the court (for a MTO or a bathroom break). Again, a reward for the player who has to suffer through the delay.
3. Any other delay or request for treatment results in a immediate default.
