Former star criticizes Novak Djokovic's toilet break and MTO

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 17:00

How much controversy at the ATP Master 1000 in Paris-Bercy during the semifinal played between Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev!The Serbian was the subject of disputes on social media between fans and professionals, a few hours before the final which will see the Serbian champion competing against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Because of what happened between the end of the second set and the resumption of play with the decisive third set. The 36-year-old from Belgrade, who equalized the score after the initial 7-5 taken by his opponent by winning the tie-break, left the court to take advantage of the toilet break.

Subsequently, upon returning, he also asked for a medical timeout due to a back problem. The physiotherapist, alerted to this, intervened and operated in the area indicated by the number one tennis player in the world. Then he was able to start playing again.

The elapsed time, well calculated by ATP, was almost 13 minutes (12 minutes and 30 seconds to be precise). A situation that has caused quite a bit of criticism among fans and even former tennis players, given the new rather precise rules for this season on the maximum times of toilet breaks and MTO to avoid very long breaks between one set and another.

espite the improvements at a regulatory level, almost 1/5 of an hour passed in Paris-Bercy on Saturday.

Paolo Bertolucci criticizes Novak Djokovic's toilet break

The former Italian player Paolo Bertolucci, commentating the match for Sky Sport, raised his voice about the situation which he considered unacceptable and unsporting: "This thing doesn't exist." The dose was increased at the end of the match on X, through a hard post from the Italian former star.

Here are his words: "13 minutes between the end of the second set and the beginning of the third in a semi of 1000! I have no words. They are ridiculing a sport that has always been indicated as one of those to be taken as an example."

Djokovic getting a MTO for a back and leg issue 🤕 pic.twitter.com/zMKVZUtAB3 — Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) November 4, 2023

13 minuti tra la fine del secondo set e l’inizio de terzo set in una semi di un 1000!Non ho parole.
Stanno mettendo in ridicolo uno sport da sempre indicato come uno di quelli da prendere a esempio. — paolo bertolucci (@paolobertolucci) November 5, 2023