Former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee calls for stricter policing of medical timeouts after Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner take lengthy breaks during their matches.
Former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee has called for stricter policing of medical timeouts in tennis after several high-profile players, including Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner , took extended breaks during matches. Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, was forced to leave the court during his thrilling four-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday, a win that secured his place in the semifinals for the 12th time.
The Serbian star admitted he was battling another injury as he stepped onto the court, stating he was a “day-by-day” proposition. Djokovic's medical timeout sparked debate, especially since it followed a lengthy break taken by world No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner during his four-round victory over Holger Rune on Monday. McNamee, who is not a fan of extended medical timeouts, believes they disrupt the flow of the game and are unfair to opponents. He suggests that the current three-minute limit should be strictly enforced. 'I'm not a big fan of it, I've got to say,' McNamee said. 'And you've got three minutes, and that's it. I don't think it's fair to the opponent to stop a match for 10 minutes, even five minutes. It's meant to be three minutes and should be policed strictly.' While Djokovic declined to divulge specific details about his injury, he admitted it was similar to the hamstring tear he managed during his winning run in 2023. The Serbian star seemed to struggle with a groin-related injury during his match against Alcaraz, leading commentators to question if it was a recurring issue. 'This isn't the first time we've seen this routine. Don't be fooled,' said renowned commentator John McEnroe during the match, observing Djokovic's movements. Sinner, who appeared to be battling the heat on Monday, took a controversial six-minute medical timeout during his match against Rune. This lengthy break left Rune frustrated and exposed to the intense Australian sun. McNamee expressed his confusion over the criticism directed at Djokovic, considering Sinner's extended timeout the day before. Djokovic eventually overcame Alcaraz in a grueling three-hour and 37-minute match, demonstrating his resilience and determination despite the pain. His victory highlights his ability to adapt and compete even under challenging circumstances
Tennis Australian Open Medical Timeouts Novak Djokovic Jannik Sinner Paul Mcnamee
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