Tim Henman urges Wimbledon to scrap controversial rule: ‘It disrupts matches’

Tim Henman wants to see Wimbledon scrap a controversial rule following Arthur Fery’s memorable victory over Grigor Dimitrov.

After what was a hugely disappointing first week for the Brits, Fery gave the home fans plenty to cheer for after punching his ticket to the quarter-finals at the All England Club.

The 23-year-old wildcard prevailed in a final-set tie-break against Dimitrov and will now face ninth seed Flavio Cobolli for a place in the final four.

In a topsy-turvy encounter on Centre Court, it was Fery who took the opening set before being pegged to one set all by Dimitrov.

The Brit then opted for a take a toilet break to change his clothes, which players are allowed to do twice during a five-set encounter.

Usually, a player is allowed three mintues for a toilet break, but that is extended to five minutes if they are also changing clothes.

These limits are designed to prevent tactical delays, but Henman suggested that amount of time is still excessive and risks ruining the momentum of a match.

‘Once you get to the area that you’re going to change your clothes, you get five minutes,’ Henman said while on commentary for the BBC.

‘There’s a couple of little changing options just behind those doubles doors behind Centre Court.

‘For me it’s a break that you’d like to get rid of, but unfortunately if it’s a bathroom break, or playing in these hot climates around, which you’d probably put London into it now, I think you’ve always got to give the players that opportunity.

‘But it does disrupt the rhythm, and therefore the momentum of these matches sometimes.’

Henman’s comments surrounding toilet breaks have been far from the only topic of disccussion when it comes to tennis’ rules at Grand Slams.

Speaking earlier in the week, third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime urged governing bodies to change the ‘disgraceful’ rule surrounding medical timeouts.

‘I think the [medical timeout] rule has to change,’ he said after his win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

‘I think that, obviously, as long as the rule is like that, a player will use it to their advantage.

‘I think that it’s very simple. If you’re hurt bad, or whatever you’re hurt, while the game’s going on of your opponent, in the middle of the game, the opponent is serving, the shot clock is on, basically when you’re hurt bad, you’re forfeiting every point until you can call the physio.

‘If the physio helps you recover, you play your service game. If you’re hurt bad, then you retire, obviously.

‘But to stop in the middle of an opponent’s service game, and to be able to call the physio, I think that’s a disgrace of a rule.

‘I don’t see any other sport where you can do that. I mark my words. It’s a disgrace of a rule. So that’s it.’

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