Which top 10 players do not take fake MTO and toilet breaks?
- Thread starter Arak
- Start date
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
the entire top 10 minus tsitsipas
What about Djokovic?
SteffiGoat
Professional
Almost everyone in the top 10 except Tsitsipas and Novak.
Not exactly top 10 but if I recall correctly, Shapovalov sometimes indulges in well timed toilet breaks, but not as systematically as the mentioned two.
He’s a previous top player but effectively he has been involved in such gamesmanship in the past.
6august
Hall of Fame
Since we're talking about MTO and toilet, I don't remember Murray has been involved in such incidents.
The only one I’m personally aware of is when he gave himself a pep talk in front of the mirror, but it could be argued that the purpose was not to break the momentum of the opponent.
How does the video prove someone took a fake MTO? All what we have is power of observation and common sense.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
There’s no way out, then.
D
Deleted member 771911
Guest
Busta?
As a long time GS major (in person) attendee, I have literally seen each top player take an off court break at one time or another. Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Nishikori, Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Theim, etc. It usually occurs between sets and I’m always surprised by how this is all scrutinized by the media. I think there are those players who likely abuse the rule and do it more often and for longer than is acceptable but I won’t wade into that topic here.
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Toilet breaks are often used to change into dry clothes and everyone takes them as you say, but I think it’s easy to detect tactical toilet breaks as in a player is getting his behind kicked and will rush to take a break as soon as he loses a set. Body language can be very telling too as usually they look distraught or angry.
It’s a fair point but what I didn’t articulate well is that I’ve seen almost every top player over the year take a break after a set whether that player won or lost the set. It’s a very normal and expected thing to do. Many times both players leave the court at the same time. This is why I’m a little surprised that it comes up so often as a topic. You are correct that there is no way to know the true intent of such a break and I think you’re right that most players do a quick change of clothes and potentially actually use the washroom.
At the end of the day, the ATP and WTA need to put in some rules around this as I don’t see the situation getting any better.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Since we are not the doctors or physios attending the players there is no way to know what is a real or fake MTO. And there is little in the rules that would determine what is a real or fake MTO. Anyone who claims they know when a player has faked an MTO is simply lying.
bathroom breaks can be used for changing your clothes or simply using the toilet or both. Unless you have e a camera in the bathroom to check there is no way to check what a player does. And no rule determines how long they must be.
bathroom breaks can be used for changing your clothes or simply using the toilet or both. Unless you have e a camera in the bathroom to check there is no way to check what a player does. And no rule determines how long they must be.
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
Fedr
Federer has admitted to using a break to gain an advantage (just as many others so nothing bad/wrong to think about him). We do need rules because folks are now abusing the long-held understanding of how to use these break times.
By his own admission, he took the break because the sun was into his eyes and he couldn’t see the ball. Now I imagine the break benefited his opponent as well. The purpose of tactical breaks is to ice the opponent and break his momentum.
Spencer Gore
Legend
I don't understand why they don't just institute a five minute break at the end of the second set and a five minute break at the end of the fourth set. No other breaks allowed. Problem solved.
Spencer Gore
Legend
Federer was being outplayed. The illegal break was explicitly to disrupt his opponent's rhythm. It worked. The momentum completely swung to Federer.
The solution is so simple and fair for everyone. Makes you wonder why it has never been implemented.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Yes, when he was 35 years old in 2017. Fed has never abused MTO's in his entire career, barely taking any in 23 years on tour. And his toilet breaks were always 3 minutes or less, always in long matches and always between sets. Djokovic was the laughing stock of tennis in 2008-2010 when he took MTO's and retired in matches routinely. And we won't even get into Rafa with his strategic MTO's.
Maybe true, I don’t know, but he’s not a serial offender that’s for sure.
Spencer Gore
Legend
From 2010...
Tennis: Federer takes well-timed toilet break
The only three men to beat Roger Federer in the last 19 majors were already out of the Australian Open, leaving the Swiss star with a new threat to...
www.odt.co.nz
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
delete
zagor
Bionic Poster
zagor
Bionic Poster
Eh, I don't know. He was constantly yelling, screaming and cursing, at his box mostly but still. An opponent could find it distracting somewhat.
spottishwood
Hall of Fame
Yeah. Davy literally broke him after a few games lol.It didn't.
Did you even watch the match?
zagor
Bionic Poster
Yep, he was up 3-1 and had 2 BPs to go 4-1. He continued kicking Fed's butt just fine after the bathroom break (which was like 2 min past the break between sets anyway).
Not that I like bathroom breaks or MTOs mind you, no matter who uses them. I'd introduce a point penalty for any play stoppage personally.
Spencer Gore
Legend
Yes. Federer was being destroyed. Davydenko was hitting hot and not missing. Then Federer took his illegal break and Davydenko started missing.
Did you even watch the match?
You are saying retiring was part of the tactics to disrupt the opponent?
Spencer Gore
Legend
It's not up for debate. Federer admitted cheating at the time.
Isn’t it better than cheating and not admitting it?
Spencer Gore
Legend
Cheating isn't good. Full stop. I'm not convinced boasting about it makes it any better.
O
OhYes
Guest
And here we go ...
duaneeo
Legend
Please. Federer and Murray don't belong in the same sentence as Nadal and Djokovic when it comes to gamesmanship.
He does take timely toilet breaks, doesn’t he? I’m not judging the players who do, just want to know the players who don’t.And here we go ...
You know the old wisdom: attack is the best defense
edberg volleys
Hall of Fame
Zagor, the voice of objectivity
This forum will sadly miss you when you not active any more!
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You’re completely wrong about that. And there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. And I’ve seen it in person numerous times at each of the Grand Slams. They all take breaks regularly (again I’m not saying they’re doing it to gain an advantage). I’m not against any of it at all. The issue is when you do it when you don’t really need to go to the washroom or have a medical issue. But to pretend that Federer and Murray don’t leave the court is absurd and that is all I was saying above.
They all take bathroom breaks in long matches after sets are won or lost. Every one of them. The issue is the ones who are taking excess time during those breaks. That list is much shorter - Tsitsipas is the obvious one under the microscope right now.
My thoughts exactly
zagor
Bionic Poster
Except anyone who watched the match, knows that emphatically didn't happen.
Davydenko didn't start missing after Fed's toilet break, he continued dominating him.
Now what I contested my boy.
