Andy Murray Slams ‘Disrespectful’ Rule After Not Being Allowed to Use Toilet During Nearly 6-Hour Match

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Tennis star Andy Murray called one of the Australian Open rules “a joke” during Thursday’s five-hour-long match against Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Murray, 35, was denied after requesting to use the toilet a second time during Thursday’s match in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena. He and Kokkinakis were preparing to enter the fifth set of the match when Murray expressed his frustration.

After the umpire refused Murray a bathroom break, the tennis star told her the rule was “disrespectful” to players and attendees of the tournament.

“It’s so disrespectful that the tournament has us out here until three, f—ing four in the morning and we’re not allowed to take a piss,” Murray said on the bench.

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Speaking to the umpire, Murray said while he “respects the rules” of the tournament, he finds the rule prohibiting him from a second bathroom break to be “a joke.”

“It’s disrespectful to you, it’s disrespectful to the ball children, disrespectful to the players and we’re not allowed to go to the toilet. It’s ridiculous.”

andy murray

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Players are allowed one bathroom break in best-of-three set matches, while they get another one for best-of-five matches, with no exceptions in place for marathon matches like Murray and Kokkinakis’.

Murray’s comments about the toilet rule were met with support from former tennis star Andy Roddick, who shared his thoughts on the situation in a tweet on Thursday.

In response to Murray calling the rule “disrespectful,” Roddick said, “Correct. This is just so dumb.”

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Ultimately, Murray defeated Kokkanakis in the match, which finally concluded at 4 a.m. Sydney time after five hours and 45 minutes.

Next, Murray will face Robert Bautista Agut in the third round of the Australian Open.