Tsitsipas vs Rothenberg press
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JustMy2Cents
Hall of Fame
from one of the comments under the youtube video:
Tsits took a 6 minute break vs Korda in Cincy A
10 minute break vs Sonego in CIncy
An 8 minute break vs Felix in Cincy
8 and a half minutes vs Zverev and got accused of cheating. was ready to go for one more with bag on shoulder till umpire told him it'll be counted as time violation.
Two Breaks against Andy: One 8 minutes 30 secs the other 7 mins 30 secs. Even after that break, he sat on his bench drinking water till Andy yelled at him
8 minutes vs Mannarino
Tsits clearly has zero logic in his argument that there is no time limit, so he didn't break rules.
so he'll sit in the WC for 15 min the next time.... when does his brain comprehend the spirit behind the letter of the law?
this is not a few seconds... it's a matter of minutes
Tsits took a 6 minute break vs Korda in Cincy A
10 minute break vs Sonego in CIncy
An 8 minute break vs Felix in Cincy
8 and a half minutes vs Zverev and got accused of cheating. was ready to go for one more with bag on shoulder till umpire told him it'll be counted as time violation.
Two Breaks against Andy: One 8 minutes 30 secs the other 7 mins 30 secs. Even after that break, he sat on his bench drinking water till Andy yelled at him
8 minutes vs Mannarino
Tsits clearly has zero logic in his argument that there is no time limit, so he didn't break rules.
so he'll sit in the WC for 15 min the next time.... when does his brain comprehend the spirit behind the letter of the law?
this is not a few seconds... it's a matter of minutes
Biotic
Hall of Fame
It's quickly becoming as natural as breathing. One might say bathroom breaks are oxygen for his tennis.
weakera
Talk Tennis Guru
Why are Tsitsipas toilet breaks always brought up but never Djokovic toilet breaks and mto's? The double standard is hilarious.
Biotic
Hall of Fame
They are mentioned all the time lmao. Meanwhile, Nadal's mostly go under the radar, like the most recent one, at the FO SF.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
Was it at the beginning of the fifth set? If so, not a big deal. And it was only 3:00. Not a Tsitsi 8:00.
The greek is amazingly calm with everyone trying to bully him. I don't think Murray would have an answer to that.
I think Tsitsi should build up on this and win the USO. That will shut everyone up.
He and the reporter said 3 min longer i.e Murray took 5 min. That's what I heard.
Nadal_Django
Legend
That toilet break have really shifted the momentum back to Murray, against at that time the mentally fragile Djokovic. It was a real masterstroke by Sir Andy, that's for sure. 
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
That toilet break have really shifted the momentum back to Murray, against at that time the mentally fragile Djokovic. It was a real masterstroke by Sir Andy, that's for sure.
If Sir Andy was truly master of the toilet breaks, he would have taken one when Tsitsi was serving for the match at 5-4.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
That toilet break have really shifted the momentum back to Murray, against at that time the mentally fragile Djokovic. It was a real masterstroke by Sir Andy, that's for sure.
Yeah I remember he took a MTO in the 5th set to get his legs massaged by a trainer.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
You’re the quintessential unreliable narrator. The “minder” said he would allow the question but not to belabor it. He’s right. It was asked and answered. Is the guy that is acting like it’s a deposition Rothenberg. If so, one of the actual reporters should have jumped in and told him to keep quiet. He’s a disgrace to all reporters.
Raul_SJ
G.O.A.T.
If 2012 was at the beginning of the fifth, it is not a big deal...Murray was whining Monday, "The rest room is right there. What is he doing in there? It should take a few minutes..."
uscwang
Hall of Fame
Holy cow!
I think ATP should make bathroom break mandatory for Tsitsipas. Don't rule out medical induction.
joshuadearing
Rookie
He is testing the rules in tennis and in the meantime winning by abusing them; simple as that and he's kind of proud of it.
I used to be a fan of his but totally lost respect.
I used to be a fan of his but totally lost respect.
joshuadearing
Rookie
Bart says he is one of the finest tennis journalists. Think he also works for the New York Times. Really can't think of many tennis journalists that are higher profile than Rothenberg.
Author: Ben Rothenberg
Ben Rothenberg is one of the most influential tennis journalists in the world, thanks to his work for The New-York Times, “The Racquet”, the “No Challenges remaining” podcast and a Twitter account…www.tennismajors.com
Ben is totally a stand up guy; his podcast and writing about Alexander Z's abuses of his ex are flawless. Check out his podcast "No Challenges Remaining"
Nadal_Django
Legend
Can you write about tennis if you've never held a racquet in your life?!
My goodness! He must urgently go have his bladder and prostate checked by a specialist. He must be very ill.
joshuadearing
Rookie
That was odd; obviously i have not heard every post match interview ever but it has me thinking that he was sort of doing that to protect Stefanos in wake of the Osaka claims? Its odd to say the least.
joshuadearing
Rookie
Or just what Naomi wanted
It surprised me Stefanos didn't take a halftime bathroom break during the post match interview hehe
Spencer Gore
Legend
If they had made an example of Federer after he admitted blatantly breaking the rules over a decade ago we could have avoided Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Tsitsipas etc all being allowed to stretch the rules since then.
Wurm
Professional
On the one hand I almost admire his Chutzpah but it's less that and more just shameless, as the shoelaces joke proved.
Murray was off the court in the US Open 2012 final for less than two minutes. Novak followed him off court for his own toilet break (whether he intended to ahead of time or just responded to Murray is not clear) and returned when Murray was already back in his seat and having another drink.
The amount of time it takes to read Murray's account of what happened in that toilet is longer than the time he actually spent there.
Tsitsipas is just trying DARVO on for size - it's not "owning" anyone, it's just showing how small minded he is. He'd fit right in around here.
Murray was off the court in the US Open 2012 final for less than two minutes. Novak followed him off court for his own toilet break (whether he intended to ahead of time or just responded to Murray is not clear) and returned when Murray was already back in his seat and having another drink.
The amount of time it takes to read Murray's account of what happened in that toilet is longer than the time he actually spent there.
Tsitsipas is just trying DARVO on for size - it's not "owning" anyone, it's just showing how small minded he is. He'd fit right in around here.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I really doubt that argument can fly. It's just your way of throwing some mud Federer's way.
Spencer Gore
Legend
It would have sent an incredibly powerful message back in 2010. You had the 3rd best player in the world openly admitting he was abusing the rules (actually admitting breaking them) and nothing was done about it. Now look where we are.
joshuadearing
Rookie
Are you saying back in 2010 Federer was "Breaking a rule" by his own words or he was abusing them and said he was breaking them; what rule was it?
Spencer Gore
Legend
"When the sun comes from the side, the ball seems half the size and is just hard to hit. I never take toilet breaks, but I thought 'Why not? I just hoped that with every minute it took, the sun would move another centimeter." ~ Roger Federer
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Some tennis rules allow for some gamesmanship as making them stricter makes the rule harsher.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
This. I think that the rules regarding breaks is that they have to be of a "reasonable" length. So the hope was that, by providing this latitude, the players would act in accordance to the spirit of the game. Clearly, this won't work when someone decides to abuse this rule, and hides behind the lack of time limit to justify their action. Which is why this needs to be strictly regulated, one way or another.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
This is the kind of droll observation that makes Federer endearing. It's a modest piece of gamsemanship, not a pattern.
Spencer Gore
Legend
It was cheating, and should have been dealt with as such.
joshuadearing
Rookie
"IF' it was cheating right? The thing is Stefanos is a repeat offender in multiple consecutive matches...
Terenigma
G.O.A.T.
He brought up the Murray final but like... that was a final. After 2 weeks of play and 7 matches of competition against the best player in the world for the final set and he took 3mins? Tsitsipas you took TWO breaks against Murray in the FIRST round of a slam and their combined length was 15mins. Tsitsipas is a joke and i'm glad his poor gamesmanship is getting called out.
Spencer Gore
Legend
Federer admitted cheating. It should have been dealt with. Then we might not have arrogant players like Tsitsipas feeling they can act any way they like.
flanker2000fr
Hall of Fame
Not wanting to excuse AZ of anything, but do you realize that short of having undergone a legal proceeding, and him being found guilty, what you write here constitutes libel?
SteffiGoat
Professional
To be fair to Tsitsipas as much as I don't like him and his long breaks, he is not breaking any rules. Nadal (and Djokovic of whom I a big fan) got away with much more.
ITF and ATP need to step up and make some rules regarding these breaks and enforce them.
ITF and ATP need to step up and make some rules regarding these breaks and enforce them.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
Has Medvedev responded yet?
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Spencer Gore
Legend
It has had a massive influence. Look at the mess we're now in. If they had dealt with Federer's openly admitted cheating against Davydenko back in 2010 and tightened the rules (or when he did the same against Tsonga in 2011, again when he was losing) we could have been spared all this nonsense.
joshuadearing
Rookie
I sure do. She sure did too when she told her truth.
Boom-Boom
Legend
aha exactly
Terenigma
G.O.A.T.
See this is where things get murky tho, there are plenty of things in the world that are "legal" in a general sense but common sense says you don't do them, an unwritten rule as people would say. A bathroom break in tennis should come under that same thinking and if there is no "rule" about it then what is to stop a player taking an hour? Where does the line get drawn for people? Also lets be perfectly frank, Tsitsipas either has a horrible case of the runs every match or he's not using it as a "toilet" break at all. He's using it as a rest and look at the sheer number of times he's done it recently.
Like you say, they need to make a ruling about it. My thinking would be you're allowed a 5min toilet break for 3set matches or two 5min toilet breaks for a 5 set match. Something really needs to be done.
Rebel-I.N.S
Hall of Fame
Not really because it was immediately debunked as a facile analogy.
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