Change the rule!!

[One hander]

NCAA has a great rule that I think should be implemented amongst the pros ASAP. If you leave the court or call a trainer, it costs you one point when you come back. This is such a great idea. I am not a fan of Zverev but completely agree with him that the only reason players do this is not to treat injury or deal with some issue they are having, but rather to throw off an opponent who is playing well. Djokovic has now made this standard practice whenever he goes down 2 sets or feels like the momentum is turning against him. Even Nadal did it to Federer at Wimbledon semi-final after losing first set, Federer was so annoyed and put off, he easily lost the second. Now, even Alcaraz is doing it. You should not be able to do it to throw off an opponent who is playing well. In fact, I think it should be two points and your opponent gets to choose if he gets those two points in either the very next or following game (your serve or his). Only exception I would make is if both players mutually agree beforehand on very hot day that they would both take a break after first or second set to freshen up.

 

[Mazz Retic]

I'm with you on players taking advantage of this rule and this change makes sense. It would however penalize people who are genuinely injured and need treatment. What about allowing players to take a time out for any reason? Sort of like how they now allow coaches to coach in the box.

 

[Crocodile]

At least Johnny Mc can say he kept his momentum changing disruptions on the court.

 

[diggler]

It should just be you are allowed a timeout. You can get treatment, go to the toilet, meditate, whatever.

 

[Backspin1183]

It should just be you are allowed a timeout. You can get treatment, go to the toilet, meditate, whatever.

A 5 min timeout after each set would be good. Players can choose to take it or stay back on the court.

 

[Terenigma]

I'm with you on players taking advantage of this rule and this change makes sense. It would however penalize people who are genuinely injured and need treatment. What about allowing players to take a time out for any reason? Sort of like how they now allow coaches to coach in the box.

See my counter to this is that if a player is "genuinely injured" then they shouldn't be playing on anyways. How many times have you seen a player win a match they were clearly injured in, only to withdraw from the next match. Kyrgios has a Wimbledon final because Nadal did it to Fritz just last year. I'm personally all for a point penalty for calling a MTO, it's not the opponents fault you got injured so why should they have to endure the momentum change?

 

[CoolCoolCool]

Them trying to throw off their opponent is a baseless assumption. For all we know, they just try to find their groove and they think putting some distance between them and the court/all this noise with the crowd for a while can be reinvigorating. Maybe that allows them to come back with a fresh perspective and second wind.

 

[esgee48]

Simple rule change to:
One Time out of 5 min max per match. If not ready to play after 5 min, player calling Time out loses match. No warm up for said player while opponent who did not call time out can do anything he wants to stay loose. If both players agree before match starts to allow more than one time out, inform the officials of this. Bathroom breaks are allowed but time restriction applies with officials going with them to bathroom. Restricted to 10 minutes. No warmup for player upon return.

This should be in the loss of condition rule.

 

[Goof]

Sometimes you have to poop.