US Open 2021 - 'Rafa or Roger would never do that' - Uncle Toni hits out at Stefanos Tsitsipas in toilet row
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Published 05/09/2021 at 13:35 GMT
The bathroom habits of Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas have been an unlikely talking point at the US Open and now Toni Nadal has made his thoughts clear in his column for El Pais, writing that GOATs Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal would never try and exploit toilet break rules to get a sporting advantage on court.
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas walks to the other side of the court during his 2021 US Open Tennis tournament men's singles third round match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York
Image credit: Getty Images
Toni Nadal has waded into the row around Stefanos Tsitsipas and his bathroom breaks at the US Open, writing in El Pais that Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal “would never” use such tactics to win.
Tsitsipas found himself at the centre of a storm following his first-round win over Andy Murray, with the Brit accusing his opponent of cheating and saying he had “lost respect” for the world number three.
The Greek took lengthy toilet breaks at the end of the second and fourth sets of the match at the US Open, both of which lasted for over seven minutes. He also required a medical time out during the match.
Tsitsipas was then booed by the crowd when he took another prolonged toilet break during his second-round match against Adrian Mannarino. After that match he said: “If I break a rule, sure, I’m guilty. I agree; I’m not doing something right. If I’m staying within the guidelines, then what’s the issue?”
Tennis rules allow for a “reasonable” toilet break without setting a specific guideline, leading to accusations that Tsitsipas’s conduct is not within the spirit of the law, even if it doesn’t breach the wording of it.
Rafael Nadal’s Uncle Toni, who coached the Spaniard to greatness, says the true icons of the sport would not behave in the same way.
“I think that no follower of our sport can imagine Roger Federer or Rafael, I don’t see why not say it, looking for extra-sporting shortcuts to achieve victory,” Toni wrote.
“The way he [Tsitsipas] acted was not fair. Rafa or Federer would never do that. Stricter rules should be implemented for the bathroom breaks.
“Tsitsipas is undoubtedly a brilliant player and as such we expect him to win without the need for any ruse that he can profit from,” the Spaniard continued.
“Obviously you don’t need them. A great champion, and he is on the way to achieve it, not only because of his victories but because of how he achieves them.”
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