"She went for a change of shirt and usually you don't do that": Dokic questions Muchova changing momentum with outfit change mid match

Former world number four Jelena Dokic questioned Czech Republic’s tennis star Karolina Muchova for taking a break to change her shirt during the US Open 2023 quarterfinal.

The fourth and final Grand Slam of the year is moving towards its conclusion as the remaining players continue to battle to claim the ultimate glory.

Muchova defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the last-eight clash of the mega-event on Tuesday with a score of 6-0, 6-3.

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Despite winning the first set, the 27-year-old went off the court in a prolonged break to change the shirt, something that left Dokic, who was commentating in the match for Channel 9, confused.

"She went for a change of shirt and usually you don't do that when you've got the momentum," she said. "Not only the momentum but she won 6-0."

Muchova's absence on the court clearly left Cirstea frustrated who expressed her feelings to the chair umpire in a heated exchange of words.

This is not the first time a player opted to take a break in the ongoing US Open as a few days earlier, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev went off the court after losing the first set to Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

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The 27-year-old’s move was also questioned by former Australian player and now broadcaster Todd Woodbridge who was critical of the world number three’s tactics.

"Why do you need to leave the court for that long?" he said on Channel 9. "It's not a toilet break, is he changing his full kit? Shouldn't that be at a certain time? I tell you, I think our sport really has to do something about these change-overs. It's just such a crutch that everyone seems to go to when they're down, and it's just not part of the game.

"It shouldn't be there, I implore our rules officials to get in and stop all this stuff going on, because it's just momentum changes in matches that we shouldn't have. Let's keep the game moving. It's not great for us as broadcasters, and I think it's really gamesmanship and it needs to be taken out. It’s such an annoying part of our game. You’re not supposed to be doing this. And the umpire is letting him get away with it.”

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