It's time to kill the Match Time Out (MTO) . . . or to overhaul it completely.

[GabeT]

Short of having an mri scanner on each court a trainer will be using a subjective assessment to establish a player’s injury.

“Does this hurt?
Yes”

so it is the player who makes the decision if they need treatment, and therefore it is the player who pretends in order to break another player’s momentum.

Scan Ostapenko at her expense after the match and if there is no tear, fine her all her prize money x 2.

Those aren’t the rules. At all

 

[Whisper]

Simple. You immediately relinquish one game when you take an mto. Will take all thoses fake mto'rs out of their practice. And if it's genuinely serious, players will still take the mto.

Maybe a little harsh to be penalized a game for the genuine injury cases? I mean you're already struggling with pain, here's a penalty game to go with it?

Maybe a lie detector on court would be fun for the fans : )

 

[tonylg]

Maybe a little harsh to be penalized a game for the genuine injury cases? I mean you're already struggling with pain, here's a penalty game to go with it?

Maybe a lie detector on court would be fun for the fans : )

It's only harsh compared to the current free for all. Compared to defaulting, giving up 1 game is something you'd jump at.

 

[beard]

MTO and toilet breaks are necessary in tennis... Do you know any sport where doctor can't intervene to help injured player?

Off course, it can be used even if player isn't injured or doesn't need toilet break, but it's the case in other sports too... Little can be done...

What can we do? Accept breaks as part of tactics in sport, something as timeout in some other sports... Something as mental part of tennis game... I really don't see a problem, if everyone can use breaks, it's not an issue, not like only some players can use breaks. ..

 

[ron schaap]

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.

you should watch EC football as reference. there multi millionair players are faking injuries and claiming opponents faults the whole 90 minutes. They are in the first place actrors and then spoertsmen.

 

[ron schaap]

She just wanted a little tummy rub in the middle of the match.

sounds you know more about it? ;-) nod nod, wink wink
why do you all make such a fuss about it? In other sports time outs are normal also if players have no injury.

 

[Kralingen]

Simple. You immediately relinquish one game when you take an mto. Will take all thoses fake mto'rs out of their practice. And if it's genuinely serious, players will still take the mto.

So we now punish genuinely injured players? Could you imagine a player’s reaction if they were told they had to do this by an umpire? The mental impact of a game would completely change the match. It’s undoubtable that the ATP would be united in boycotting a rule like this.

 

[skip1969]

you should watch EC football as reference. there multi millionair players are faking injuries and claiming opponents faults the whole 90 minutes. They are in the first place actrors and then spoertsmen.

That's my whole point. Flopping/diving is everywhere in football. Everybody on earth knows it. But NOBODY actually does it, right? Because nobody admits to it, therefore it doesn't exist. The governing bodies all SAY they want to stamp it out, that it's an embarrassment to the game. But they don't actually DO anything concrete about it. So . . . it continues.

The funny thing about yesterday's match was Tomljanovic actually saying the quiet part out loud. "You know she's lying, right? WE ALL KNOW." And it was totally true.

 

[skip1969]

And to think it used to be called a scandal when players got treatment for real cramping.

I remember those days. Hell, you never saw a trainer on court.

 

[skip1969]

The fact that the shot clock not actually being a clock isn't the rule most in need of alteration is certainly something.

Medical time outs are pointless. If you are seriously injured then the physio can't help you. If you're not seriously injured then you don't need the physio.

100% agree.

 

[thrust]

MTO obviously is necessary, because players do get injured. If it's there, many, if not most, players are going to abuse it, some of the time. (There's a saying in American sports, 'If you're not cheating, you're not trying.')

If you're a player, I suggest you learn how to handle it to your own advantage. After all, you're a professional, and you expect things like this to come up. It's not like Tomjanovic promise never to use such a tactic herself when it suits her purpose.

MTO is part of the game, so learn how to handle it, instead of come crying to mama! What if your opponent was indeed genuinely injured, would she fall apart like that too?

Medical times out are bad enough, but bathroom breaks are ridiculous. Until the late nineties, or so, there were NO times out for ANY reason. If you were really injured and needed medical help, you were defaulted.

 

[skip1969]

A player doesn’t decide an MTO. A player can only request one and it‘s up to the trainer/physiotherapist to decide if it’s appropriate. Dealing with momentum changes is part of the sport. She should focus on improving her concentration if she can be thrown off so easily.

That's just it. How many physios are going to contradict a player in front of the fans and the umpire and say that a player cannot take a MTO? The pressure to say yes must be great, especially if it's a top player. How many times have you seen a physio come out in the past five years and say, "Sorry, no can do."

It's the same with the umpire. There wasn't even a wince from Ostapenko yesterday, or any groan or stoppage of play to indicate she'd been suddenly hurt. She literally got broken, and walked to the umpire's chair and said she needed treatment right away and it couldn't wait for the next change. Even with ZERO evidence, the umpire allowed it. To send her back to the baseline would have meant calling Ostapenko a liar, or at least calling her bluff. These are the same umpires who don't enforce the shot clock, who don't overrule bad calls anymore and put it on the players to use their challenges. And they are gonna stand up to the players and put their foot down when they think the MTO is being abused?

Part of the reason the players know they can abuse the rule is because they don't expect any pushback from the umpires or the physios.

 

[beard]

Medical time outs are pointless. If you are seriously injured then the physio can't help you. If you're not seriously injured then you don't need the physio.

Most of the times player isn't sure if the injury is severe or not... He needs some time and maybe doctor expertise to conclude what to do... Imagine that players continue playing and get even more injured... You know, it's not ancient Rome and gladiators time, and fake injuries problem can't be held the way you propose... If that problem can be held at all... My solution would be 3 minutes timeouts, one in best of 3 and two in best of 5 (in 4th or 5th set), plus one toilet break, preferably between sets... Or something different, should be thought about carefully...

 

[Whisper]

What can we do? Accept breaks as part of tactics in sport, something as timeout in some other sports... Something as mental part of tennis game... I really don't see a problem, if everyone can use breaks, it's not an issue, not like only some players can use breaks. ..

Yes I agree. When a soccer player is injured they don’t award the opposition a penalty for the disruption, or to discourage an injured player from seeking treatment. Tennis players are professionals and should prepare for these disruptions - part of the game.

 

[Whisper]

you should watch EC football as reference. there multi millionair players are faking injuries and claiming opponents faults the whole 90 minutes. They are in the first place actrors and then spoertsmen.

so we’re lucky it can only happen once per match in tennis. Not a big deal imo.

 

[skip1969]

So we now punish genuinely injured players? Could you imagine a player’s reaction if they were told they had to do this by an umpire? The mental impact of a game would completely change the match. It’s undoubtable that the ATP would be united in boycotting a rule like this.

But why shouldn't we punish players for their bodies failing them during a match? It's a loss of condition. Instead, some here insist that the onus be on the non-injured to suck it up and deal with the delay tactics and be 'professional.' My feeling is that the conditioned athlete should be rewarded with a game in order to stop or curtail this nonsense altogether.

 

[Whisper]

If you were really injured and needed medical help, you were defaulted.

careful what you wish for. Do you want to see slam finals ending in default because a player gets cramps that requires a few minutes treatment? I’d rather put up with a little disruption so the match can be played out.

 

[Mustard]

No thanks. I don't want a return to Shuzo Matsuoka cramping in agony at the 1995 US Open.

 

[WYK]

The players demanded it and it happened. It isn't going away.
The sponsors, from the tennis authorities, TV and on line providers, their advertisers, all the way down to the on court banners depend on exposure. Athletes not attending matches due to health concerns or ending matches earlier isn't conducive to this end.
At the end of the day, they are entertainers. It doesn't matter to the sponsors whether the best person won, what matters is they all make money.

 

[Whisper]

There wasn't even a wince from Ostapenko yesterday,

so all a player has to do is wince and grab a thigh like it’s in pain, and then later can say that’s when she injured it and now wants treatment as the pain is worse? This is all silly. Just let the players take the 1 mto if they want.

 

[Kralingen]

But why shouldn't we punish players for their bodies failing them during a match? It's a loss of condition. Instead, some here insist that the onus be on the non-injured to suck it up and deal with the delay tactics and be 'professional.' My feeling is that the conditioned athlete should be rewarded with a game in order to stop or curtail this nonsense altogether.

This sounds well and good on a tennis forum and behind closed doors. In practice I would like to see you and other posters actually enforce it. Let’s imagine let’s say Kyrgios being told he would have to forfeit a game after his core injury yesterday. Can you imagine his reaction? He would go ballistic, and it would be even worse given that this is a new rule.

Or worse, what happens if a player runs into an advertising board or the stands and hurts their knee, and then add insult to injury for being docked a game for something out of their control? That has nothing to do with “managing ones own condition”.

That would be on the front page of sports news everywhere as a heinously unfair rule. No way would that fly. Stop living in dreamland, these are overwhelmingly real situations and real athletes. Remember that they’re humans, not automatons programmed solely for our entertainment.

 

[BGod]

The _only_ thing that needs changing is to take out 'M' out of MTO. Make it a Time Out, a player can take it anytime between games, make it like one per set, and be done with it. If you use it for non-medical stuff and later you do get injured - too bad. Virtually any sport has a time out, tennis should be no different.

Of course everybody uses it as a momentum break. so?

Ya I agree, just have a TO of 5 minutes per set that can only be used on service games. 5min even if used by both players every set isn't that big of a deal. Yes it's 50min total but you already have commercials and a typical 5 set match is over 3 hours.

 

[Whisper]

But why shouldn't we punish players for their bodies failing them during a match? It's a loss of condition. Instead, some here insist that the onus be on the non-injured to suck it up and deal with the delay tactics and be 'professional.' My feeling is that the conditioned athlete should be rewarded with a game in order to stop or curtail this nonsense altogether.

but I don’t mind players taking these breaks just to clear their heads. What’s the big deal? The player who’s leading can often choke these situations, so having the break can also help them. Alja won the match comfortably anyway, proves my point it’s not a big deal. They just need to accept it can happen at any time.

 

[skip1969]

so all a player has to do is wince and grab a thigh like it’s in pain, and then later can say that’s when she injured it and now wants treatment as the pain is worse? This is all silly. Just let the players take the 1 mto if they want.

Obviously, a player doesn't even have to bother to wince or fake the pain. Ostepenko didn't. She waltzed to her chair and calmly plopped herself down without even bothering to fake the pain. I mean hell, even I can get a doctor's note for calling out of work on some BS. It ain't rocket science.

I'm all for letting the players take a MTO . . . with a game penalty.

 

[Whisper]

Obviously, a player doesn't even have to bother to wince or fake the pain. Ostepenko didn't. She waltzed to her chair and calmly plopped herself down without even bothering to fake the pain. I mean hell, even I can get a doctor's note for calling out of work on some BS. It ain't rocket science.

but she would have if that was the requirement ie fake wince to use later if required. She knows the rules and her entitlements.

 

[Whisper]

I'm all for letting the players take a MTO . . . with a game penalty.

So Federer is serving at 4-5 in 5th set of Wimbledon final, runs in for a Djoker drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Calls for a MTO as he can’t continue immediately (25 second rule). Umpire says no problem, game set and match to Djokovic. Yes, tennis would be a laughing stock.

 

[skip1969]

This sounds well and good on a tennis forum and behind closed doors. In practice I would like to see you and other posters actually enforce it. Let’s imagine let’s say Kyrgios being told he would have to forfeit a game after his core injury yesterday. Can you imagine his reaction? He would go ballistic, and it would be even worse given that this is a new rule.

Or worse, what happens if a player runs into an advertising board or the stands and hurts their knee, and then add insult to injury for being docked a game for something out of their control? That has nothing to do with “managing ones own condition”.

That would be on the front page of sports news everywhere as a heinously unfair rule. No way would that fly. Stop living in dreamland, these are overwhelmingly real situations and real athletes. Remember that they’re humans, not automatons programmed solely for our entertainment.

I respectfully disagree. I mean, do you make the rules in your house according to people's feelings? Is a cop scared to pull over a speeding motorist cos the motorist might be mad? If you make a rule, you shouldn't be afraid of enforcing it. We have to obey plenty of rules and laws every day that potentially could tick somebody off. Yet, rules and laws exist.

If players know beforehand that any MTO will result in a game penalty, there should be no reason to argue or get mad. I mean, that's exactly the same logic the tours used when they introduced the challenge system, no? They said to the players, you have the power to challenge the call now. And what the video shows is beyond question. So, no arguments. It's on the player's shoulders. Same principle applies here. Call a MTO, get a game penalty. No grey area. It's on the player's shoulders.

If the injury is genuine, like in Kyrgios's case, why should he be mad about a game penalty? He already knew before he called his MTO that he was in trouble and would probably not be able to finish or win his match. A game penalty would mean nothing in such a case. The end result would have still ended with him defaulting.

 

[Whisper]

If the injury is genuine, like in Kyrgios's case, why should he be mad about a game penalty? He already knew before he called his MTO that he was in trouble and would probably not be able to finish or win his match. A game penalty would mean nothing in such a case. The end result would have still ended with him defaulting.

It may mean nothing in this case, but what about my Fed v Djoker Wimbledon final example above? This would cost Fed a potential 9th Wimbledon, 21st slam and goat status. It would also help Djoker to calendar slam and goat status. This is the opposite of nothing.

 

[fedfan08]

Seems to me for an injury that happens on court and is easy to recognize (e.g. a player takes a spill or twists their ankle) a player should be allowed to get treatment without penalty. For anything else it should be a point or game penalty for getting treatment.

 

[skip1969]

So Federer is serving at 4-5 in 5th set of Wimbledon final, runs in for a Djoker drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Calls for a MTO as he can’t continue immediately (25 second rule). Umpire says no problem, game set and match to Djokovic. Yes, tennis would be a laughing stock.

As the saying goes, 'You win some, you lose some.'

I mean, too bad so sad. Fed can give himself a 20 second shoulder massage, go to the line and serve. Or serve underhand. Whatever. No one is forcing him to take the MTO and the game penalty. There are always choices . . . and choices have consequences.

 

[Whisper]

As the saying goes, 'You win some, you lose some.'

I mean, too bad so sad. Fed can give himself a 20 second shoulder massage, go to the line and serve. Or serve underhand. Whatever. No one is forcing him to take the MTO and the game penalty. There are always choices . . . and choices have consequences.

I was hoping you’d see how really silly your suggestion is. It’s ok to admit it was poorly thought out - not a biggie.

 

[fedfan08]

I respectfully disagree. I mean, do you make the rules in your house according to people's feelings? Is a cop scared to pull over a speeding motorist cos the motorist might be mad? If you make a rule, you shouldn't be afraid of enforcing it. We have to obey plenty of rules and laws every day that potentially could tick somebody off. Yet, rules and laws exist.

If players know beforehand that any MTO will result in a game penalty, there should be no reason to argue or get mad. I mean, that's exactly the same logic the tours used when they introduced the challenge system, no? They said to the players, you have the power to challenge the call now. And what the video shows is beyond question. So, no arguments. It's on the player's shoulders. Same principle applies here. Call a MTO, get a game penalty. No grey area. It's on the player's shoulders.

If the injury is genuine, like in Kyrgios's case, why should he be mad about a game penalty? He already knew before he called his MTO that he was in trouble and would probably not be able to finish or win his match. A game penalty would mean nothing in such a case. The end result would have still ended with him defaulting.

I think if it’s something that happens on court like a player slips and twists their ankle or scrapes their knee they should be allowed to get treatment for that without penalty. I’d even include really bad blisters that they need taped up. That’s obviously not a case of a player engaging in gamesmanship.

 

[Whisper]

Seems to me for an injury that happens on court and is easy to recognize (e.g. a player takes a spill or twists their ankle) a player should be allowed to get treatment without penalty. For anything else it should be a point or game penalty for getting treatment.

Absolutely ridiculous idea. How many breaks are there in American football?

 

[Kralingen]

As the saying goes, 'You win some, you lose some.'

I mean, too bad so sad. Fed can give himself a 20 second shoulder massage, go to the line and serve. Or serve underhand. Whatever. No one is forcing him to take the MTO and the game penalty. There are always choices . . . and choices have consequences.

I respect your willingness to attempt to create a normative solution. Most linger in the grey area, complain about an issue but don’t offer a real solution. Trust me I agree with you on the whole situation. But creating such a draconian unilateral law would actually make things worse.

Players are so competitive that they will attempt to play through things to avoid losing a game. Remember the FO when Djokovic fell, cut open his hand and was oozing blood? How on earth could that be his fault? You’d be forcing players to continue in dangerous circumstances to avoid losing a game. This could lead to even more of a serious injury. And as everyone knows, athletes will play through anything to win — I don’t want to see any player having to choose between exacerbating an injury and losing the set.

The first rule of jury duty - I would rather let 100 guilty men go free than punish one innocent man. I suppose we are on opposite sides of this quote

 

[fedfan08]

Absolutely ridiculous idea. How many breaks are there in American football?

Who cares? Tennis isn’t football. But I suppose you’re one who thinks there should be on court coaching too since every other sport has it.

 

[skip1969]

I was hoping you’d see how really silly your suggestion is. It’s ok to admit it was poorly thought out - not a biggie.

My suggestion is no sillier than you suggesting that we don't put a rule in place on the off chance that MAYBE someday one of the Big 3 will hurt himself during a key moment of a Slam final that might impact the all-time Slam count and potential GOAT status of one guy.

That's like me arguing that we shouldn't have speed limits because MAYBE someday my wife may be super pregnant and maybe her water will break but I won't notice because I'll be outside on my riding mower working on my perfect lawn, and by the time she drags herself to the front door to yell to me to race her to the hospital, I will have no choice but to drive super fast and break the speed limit. LOL

You don't make or reject a rule based on the worst-case or best-case hypothetical scenario that someone can think of.

 

[socallefty]

Long breaks between points, MTOs etc. seems to be an issue only on TTW - I have never seen fans in real life complain about any of it. I’ve watched many pro tournaments for decades and when there is a MTO or other interruption in play, fans don’t complain about it and some use it to go to the toilet. I personally feel that longer time between points without shot clocks, MTOs, toilet breaks etc. just add to the drama of a match and make it more of an entertainment spectacle.

 

[skip1969]

I respect your willingness to attempt to create a normative solution. Most linger in the grey area, complain about an issue but don’t offer a real solution. Trust me I agree with you on the whole situation. But creating such a draconian unilateral law would actually make things worse.

Players are so competitive that they will attempt to play through things to avoid losing a game. Remember the FO when Djokovic fell, cut open his hand and was oozing blood? How on earth could that be his fault? You’d be forcing players to continue in dangerous circumstances to avoid losing a game. This could lead to even more of a serious injury. And as everyone knows, athletes will play through anything to win — I don’t want to see any player having to choose between exacerbating an injury and losing the set.

The first rule of jury duty - I would rather let 100 guilty men go free than punish one innocent man. I suppose we are on opposite sides of this quote

Hmm . . . I like you.

But how different would this be from any other on-court decision that a player must make during the course of a match?

You're saying that we can't put players in a position where they are putting their own health in jeopardy in order to continue a match, right? But isn't that the rationale that got us where we are today? In order to solve one problem, the tour has created another. And now, the opposite is the norm. Players are calling MTOs at their leisure, with no care or concern about the merits of doing so.

Supposedly, the players had to be protected from their own bad judgment in refusing to default when injured or in pain. Apparently, it was intolerable for players to vomit or cramp on court, to hobble around or suffer. That was barbaric. Okay, so what do we have now? Now, for every niggle, every muscle strain, any level of pain, you can call a MTO. And because no one will question your honor, you can call a MTO even when you just want to catch your breath, or throw off your opponent, or get a nice rub down from the physio in the middle of a tough match. And proponents simply say, "Ah, it's just part of the game." Well, so was staying out there until you had to default. That was just part of the game.

Do you honestly think we've improved the game with the system we have in place today?

 

[Whisper]

You don't make or reject a rule based on the worst-case or best-case hypothetical scenario that someone can think of.

You’re over emotional about allowing players one time-out they can choose to use at any point In a match. Tennis is a very physically and mentally demanding 1 on 1 sport. You can’t rely on team mates to carry you if you have an injury. You’re on your own. I think it’s unreasonable to not allow players 1 break in several hours of match play. It should be a regular thing we see in tennis and not something players have to fake or try hard to convince umpire it’s genuine.

 

[Tshooter]

You’re over emotional about allowing players one time-out they can choose to use at any point In a match. Tennis is a very physically and mentally demanding 1 on 1 sport. You can’t rely on team mates to carry you if you have an injury. You’re on your own. I think it’s unreasonable to not allow players 1 break in several hours of match play. It should be a regular thing we see in tennis and not something players have to fake or try hard to convince umpire it’s genuine.

Tennis was designed from inception as a leisurely activity for ladies and gentlemen not a brutish sport where people chase after each other and try to throw each other on the ground and then jump on them. As a consequence, not only do you get a break over several hours of polite match play you get a break every two games. Which break allows a player to take advantage of the complimentary beverage service and even take a snooze, if desired, while fans patiently wait for the “action” to resume. It’s all quite civilized but it doesn’t account for cheats because that type of behavior wasn’t even contemplated as a possibility. Alas, this aberrant behavior is why the rules may require an update.

 

[Whisper]

Do you honestly think we've improved the game with the system we have in place today?

Yes I do. A few yrs ago I was like you, thinking it outrageous players abuse this rule. Then I thought about it logically and realised the most important thing is to see a match completed to the highest level possible under the circumstances. I realised taking one time-out in a match is not a big deal and all players can take it if they want. The problem is calling it ‘medical’, they should drop that and just everyone can have 1 short time out per match to gather their thoughts. Pros should expect it from their opponents and not be surprised/outraged - it’s like being surprised Kyrgios throws in sneaky under arm serve.

 

[Whisper]

Which break allows a player to enjoy a beverage and even take a snooze, if desired, while fans patiently wait for the “action” to resume.

So why the outrage if we allow 1 optional slightly longer strategic break? It’s a tiny concession to players that have been out there for hours slogging away.

 

[Tshooter]

So why the outrage if we allow 1 optional slightly longer strategic break? It’s a tiny concession to players that have been out there for hours slogging away.

I edited my post to make it clear the beverage service is complimentary ! And if you’re slogging away then you’re doing it wrong. (Re your question, first sentence, post #28.)

 

[skip1969]

You’re over emotional about allowing players one time-out they can choose to use at any point In a match. Tennis is a very physically and mentally demanding 1 on 1 sport. You can’t rely on team mates to carry you if you have an injury. You’re on your own. I think it’s unreasonable to not allow players 1 break in several hours of match play. It should be a regular thing we see in tennis and not something players have to fake or try hard to convince umpire it’s genuine.

I don't think I'm being "over emotional" about anything. I am trying to have a practical discussion about a vague rule put into place a few years ago (recently, in terms of the history of our sport) which began to be abused almost from the get-go. I'm not emotional about it at all since it does not directly or indirectly effect my life, livelihood or profession. I'm just voicing an opinion.

The notion that players deserve a time out because our sport is so demanding is, I suppose, up for debate. I'm not sure how "demanding" fans of other sports view tennis when tennis players get a break every two games, are allowed to sit in comfy chairs, have water and towels brought to them. They don't have to pick up balls. And until Covid, had an army of kids scampering to even deliver them their sweaty towels so they could wipe their sweaty brows. They play under a shot clock that no one really enforces, they get to stop playing when it's too hot, and don't have play when it's raining. To imply that they need more time to recover from such 'demands' is a bit rich.

My argument isn't that they shouldn't be allowed a time out, though why they need it when it was never needed before in the history of our game is a good question. My argument is that mis-using the MTO in order to get that break which you think they deserve is wrong.

 

[skip1969]

Yes I do. A few yrs ago I was like you, thinking it outrageous players abuse this rule. Then I thought about it logically and realised the most important thing is to see a match completed to the highest level possible under the circumstances. I realised taking one time-out in a match is not a big deal and all players can take it if they want. The problem is calling it ‘medical’, they should drop that and just everyone can have 1 short time out per match to gather their thoughts. Pros should expect it from their opponents and not be surprised/outraged - it’s like being surprised Kyrgios throws in sneaky under arm serve.

So, you are advocating for a time out. That's not quite the same thing as defending MTOs as they are being used today.

 

[norcal]

I would LOVE to see Jomboy Media do a breakdown on this catfight, would be epic.

 

[GabeT]

So Federer is serving at 4-5 in 5th set of Wimbledon final, runs in for a Djoker drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Calls for a MTO as he can’t continue immediately (25 second rule). Umpire says no problem, game set and match to Djokovic. Yes, tennis would be a laughing stock.

exactly

 

[jm1980]

So Federer is serving at 4-5 in 5th set of Wimbledon final, runs in for a Djoker drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Calls for a MTO as he can’t continue immediately (25 second rule). Umpire says no problem, game set and match to Djokovic. Yes, tennis would be a laughing stock.

How many times has Federer called for an MTO in his entire career? I can only recall it happening once, at the AO against Wawrinka

 

[tonylg]

So Federer is serving at 4-5 in 5th set of Wimbledon final, runs in for a Djoker drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Calls for a MTO as he can’t continue immediately (25 second rule). Umpire says no problem, game set and match to Djokovic. Yes, tennis would be a laughing stock.

How about these scenarios:

1. Djokovic is up 3-0 in the 5th set, runs in for a Fed drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Trades a game for an MTO, gets it sorted and wins 6-1 in the 5th.

2. Djokovic is up 3-0 in the 5th set, runs in for a Fed drop shot but slips and hits left shoulder on net post causing big bruise and pain. Because he's already used his two allotted Tactical Stoppages, he has to either play on or forfeit.

3. Djokovic is up 3-0 in the 5th set, Fed runs in for a Djok drop shot and comes up short. 4-0 - Djokovic. Knowing Djok is on a roll, Fed pretends he pulled his hammy and calls for an MTO. Now down 4-0 and two breaks, he uses the break to regroup, while Djok sits there and waits for him. Fed comes out and bombs 4 aces, 4-1. As they walk to their chairs, Fed pretends to tear an ab and we have another tactical sto.. medical time out. We come back and Fed breaks to love. 4-2. Fed holds serve and then calls another stoppage for sore feet. Comes back on court at 2-4, breaks to love again and then holds to make it 4-4 to Fed. What do you think these forums would look like if Fed then called for the trainer just before Djok is about to serve?

Yes, extreme examples can make anything look bad. A game penalty would remove all the play acting we see today.

 

[Whisper]

So, you are advocating for a time out. That's not quite the same thing as defending MTOs as they are being used today.

Yes, 1 per match is reasonable imo and nobody should be surprised if/when a player takes it. MTO are being used as TO anyway so just tweak the rules a little.