2022 Australian Open will not adopt ATP's new mandate to ban toilet breaks

The organizers of the Australian Open have announced that the first Grand Slam of the season will not be employing the ATP's new toilet break rules, which have been designed to stop players from using bathroom breaks as a tactical ploy.

Following the controversial toilet break feud between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andy Murray during their match at this year's US Open, the ATP enacted a new set of guidelines that involved the use of bathrooms from next year.

The mandate states players will only be allowed one bathroom break per match, and it can only be taken at the end of a set. The clock will start once the player reaches the bathroom, and time violations will be used as punishment if any player breaches the allotted time limit. Furthermore, players will also be permitted two minutes per match to change clothes.

However, the Australian Open – which is governed by the ITF, not the ATP or WTA – told the Herald the new rules have not yet been adopted for the first grand slam of 2022. 

“Grand slam rules will apply,” a Tennis Australia spokesperson said.

Grand slam rules state that players are permitted to take two toilet breaks in best of five set matches, for a “reasonable” amount of time. Those rules have allowed players to use bathroom breaks as an avenue to stopping momentum for their opponent for years, so it will be interesting to see how this new mandate affects play once it has been instituted.