NEW YORK (AFP) – Stefanos Tsitsipas took another trademark long bathroom break then credited it for advancing to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as a storm lashing New York forced the suspension of an indoor match.
The 23-year-old Greek third seed was booed after taking more than eight minutes between the third and fourth sets but dominated after his extended toilet trip to flush Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
”I think taking a break and going to change – I was completely wet –I was refreshed,” Tsitsipas said when asked about the key to sweeping the final set in 30 minutes.
”I was much more able to deliver good tennis in the fourth set. I was able to stay resilient on each and every point.”
Tsitsipas, who matched his deepest US Open run, has been ridiculed by Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev for extended bathroom breaks seen as gamesmanship.
French Open runner-up Tsitsipas, who says he’s only following ATP rules that have no time limit on toilet breaks, fired a career-high 27 aces, five more than his previous best, in winning his ATP-best 50th match of the year.
”I just felt very loose on my serve,” Tsitsipas said. ”My ball toss was very consistent. That helped me find a spot and have points off my serve.”
Defending champion Naomi Osaka advanced by walkover while Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev breezed into the third round over Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
Osaka reached the third round when 20-year-old Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic withdrew due to illness.
”I have been feeling unwell these past few days dealing with a non-covid related viral ilness,” Danilovic posted on social media.
Osaka, seeking her fifth Grand Slam title and third US Open crown in four years, next faces Canada’s 73rd-ranked Leylah Fernandez.
