"He learnt from Djokovic" says Patrick Mouratoglou on Tsitsipas toilet breaks

Stefanos Tsitsipas is still catching criticism for his use of toilet breaks at the US Open and Patrick Mouratoglou explained that he learnt the little break from Novak Djokovic.

Toilet breaks used for momentum changes are nothing novel in tennis and they have been around for quite a few years. Many players used it before but the issue with Tsitsipas and his breaks is that they take a lot longer than the average one. Patrick Mouratoglou explained by the reasoning for toilet breaks from a players perspectiev saying:

“When a player takes a toilet break, he takes a toilet break most of the time not because he needs the toilet but because it is a moment for him to reset and to refocus. Most of the time he’s lost the set. He needs to calm down, be alone and be within himself to find himself a solution and that is the only thing that Stefanos does.”

Mouratoglou also pointed out to some holes in the theory that Tsitsipa uses the break solely to break his opponent's rhythm. He said:

“It’s even annoying to think that a player would only do that to disturb the rhythm of his opponent. When he did that (took a break) against Murray he just won a set. So why would he try to break the rhythm?”

A fair point made by Mouratoglou but the Greek also took breaks after losing sets. Mouratoglou also explained Tsitsipas learnt the value of taking toilet breaks from world number one Novak Djokovic who took one in the French Open final and changed the course of that match forever:

"When he lost his Roland Garros final he was two sets to love up. Djokovic took a toilet break, came back and then it was a different match. He learned from that."

The value for Tsitsipas according to Mouratoglou came not from breaking the opponetns rhytm but rather composing himself in key moments when things get a bit erratic. He explained that admitting that's the reason why he continues to do it:

"He didn’t learn that Djokovic broke his rhythm. He found out that Djokovic took time for himself in the locker room and was able to reset and come back different. He learnt that tried it and it worked out for him. That’s why he continues to do it.”

In conclusion, Mouratoglou reiterated something he has called for a long time and that is limiting toilet break times:

"I’ve always said that I think tennis is too long. I am not gonna say that a toilet break of six minutes is not too long. I think it should be three minutes, maybe five maximum. I have been complaining about these toilet breaks for a long time. I think there has to be a rule and I really wish the ATP, WTA and ITF set up a rule which means how long a toilet break should be and the problem is solved.”