WTA attempting to cut down on mid set toilet breaks and medical timeouts

[woodrow1029]

The WTA got more strict on toilet breaks this season. I am pasting the new rule below. Note that in the past, it was "should be taken at a set break. If the player can't wait till the set break, the toilet break should be taken before their own serve." This year, if the player can't wait till the set break, it must be taken before their serve.

b. Toilet Breaks
Toilet breaks should be taken on a set break. However, if a toilet
break is taken during a set, it must be taken before the player’s
own service game. If the player has been authorized to leave the
court before her opponent’s service game, then the player is leaving
the court on her own time and will be penalized in accordance
with the Penalty Point Schedule, if the player is not ready to play
within the allowed time.

Also, they are attempting to cut down on the amount of medical time outs taken. They are now charging the players for court calls after 6 per year. Note, that the fee is pretty small and insignificant, and I don't think that this will make that much of a difference. It's a step in the right direction as far as cutting into some of the gamesmanship. Possibly, if it goes well, they will raise the fees next year.​

viii. Court Call Limit
Players shall be required to pay a service fee for each court
call in excess of six (6) per year at WTA Tour Tournaments,
inclusive of medical time-outs. The amount of the service fee
will be based on the level of tournament at which the court call
occurs:
(a) Premier Mandatory: $300;
(b) Premier 5: $250;
(c) Premier: $200; and
(d) International: $100.​

 

[viktorkwan]

This is an interesting development...

I have a question though...and I mean it as a genuine question, not poking fun at the females players...

We all know that some females go through unbelievably painful cramps every few weeks.....but how do the professional female players continue to play week in week out for most of the year???

 

[West Coast Ace]

To the OP: source? The 'service fee' sounds ridiculous.

I can't recall a mid-set toilet break. Someone?

 

[Julieta]

This is an interesting development...

I have a question though...and I mean it as a genuine question, not poking fun at the females players...

We all know that some females go through unbelievably painful cramps every few weeks.....but how do the professional female players continue to play week in week out for most of the year???

One reason you see odd losses from time to time.

 

[woodrow1029]

To the OP: source? The 'service fee' sounds ridiculous.

I can't recall a mid-set toilet break. Someone?

Source, WTA Tour Rulebook. And mid set bathroom breaks happen quite often.

 

[vbranis]

This is a good change, I bet that 90% of the toilet breaks are gamesmanship, not "nature calling".

 

[veroniquem]

This is a good change, I bet that 90% of the toilet breaks are gamesmanship, not "nature calling".

How come they made those rules for WTA and not ATP?

 

[vbranis]

How come they made those rules for WTA and not ATP?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me it seems that the women abuse the bathroom rule waaaaay more than the men.

Injury time-outs are probably even though.

 

[Oui c'est moi.]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me it seems that the women abuse the bathroom rule waaaaay more than the men.

Injury time-outs are probably even though.

Do you not think women need more bathroom breaks for, a) that time of the month, and, b) to change dress/top?

 

[Topaz]

Do you not think women need more bathroom breaks for, a) that time of the month, and, b) to change dress/top?

a) duh, self explanatory

b) yup, gals don't have the luxury of being able to change on court like the guys

Though, most of the time these breaks can be taken in between sets, like many players (Dementieva comes to mind...she always changes in between sets because she sweats so much) manage to do.

 

[woodrow1029]

Do you not think women need more bathroom breaks for, a) that time of the month, and, b) to change dress/top?

The number of bathroom breaks hasn't changed. The only difference is that they can no longer take a toilet break on a changeover during a set if its before their opponents serve. If they need to take an emergency bathroom break, then they need to do it before their own serve. By rule, a change of attire break counts as one of the 2 allowed toilet breaks. Change of attire break must be taken at a set break.

 

[veroniquem]

Do you not think women need more bathroom breaks for, a) that time of the month, and, b) to change dress/top?

TV ratings would go way up if women had to change their top on the court like men!

 

[federerdomination]

TV ratings would go way up if women had to change their top on the court like men!

lol The ATP tour would soon be overshadowed by the WTA!