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Drama erupts over Casper Ruud's illegal act during bathroom break

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Casper Ruud, pictured here getting a code violation for not using the toilet during a bathroom break.
Casper Ruud got a code violation for not using the toilet during a bathroom break. Image: Getty/Tennis TV

Casper Ruud has been hit with one of the most bizarre code violations in recent tennis history after it was ruled he didn't actually use the toilet during a bathroom break.

Ruud was in action against Roberto Bautista Agut at the Canadian Open on Thursday when he took a bathroom break at the end of the second set.

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While bathroom breaks are perfectly legal, Ruud was hit with a code violation by the chair umpire when he came back on court.

Umpire Fergus Murphy explained to Ruud that because he hadn't actually gone to the toilet during the break he was in violation of the rules.

The Norwegian player had used the break to change his clothes due to sapping heat in Montreal, but never actually used the toilet.

"You have to go to the bathroom as well. That's the rule," Murphy told Ruud.

Ruud asked: "If I need to change my underwear what do I do? Do it on the court?"

Murphy said: "The rule is covered by the bathroom break rule. You can change your clothes but you have to go to the bathroom when you say you're going to the bathroom.

"When you don't go I have to give you a warning for not going, that's why I'm explaining it."

Ruud didn't appear to understand why he was receiving the code violation, but his protestations fell on deaf ears.

He will also likely receive a fine, which is standard procedure after a code violation.

Tennis fans and commentators were also left stunned by the extraordinary scenes.

The rules around bathroom breaks have been tightened this year on the ATP tour after a number of controversial incidents in recent years.

Andy Murray famously said he'd lost all respect for Stefanos Tsitsipas after the Greek player took a number of lengthy bathroom breaks during their clash at the US Open in 2021.

Players have long been accused of using bathroom breaks to break the momentum of opponents, with Novak Djokovic admitting to exactly that at Wimbledon this year.

Casper Ruud gets past Roberto Bautista Agut

Ruud managed to advance to the quarter-finals of the US Open lead-up event, beating Bautista Agut 6-7 (4) 7-6 (4) 6-4.

Ruud is the highest seed left (fourth) in the singles draw after World No.1 Daniil Medvedev, No.2 Carlos Alcaraz and No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas all dropped out on Wednesday.

Rudd held off Bautista Agut after a mid-afternoon thunderstorm delayed play for just over an hour.

“It was a tough battle. The first two sets were 2 hours and 20 minutes," Rudd said.

Casper Ruud, pictured here in action against Roberto Bautista Agut at the Canadian Open.
Casper Ruud in action against Roberto Bautista Agut at the Canadian Open. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) (Minas Panagiotakis via Getty Images)

"Good intensity and I was feeling it a bit in the legs. Luckily, there was some rain, which gave me some time to breath out and regain some energy.

"I can thank the weather gods today, giving me some extra time and energy.”

Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime is also moving on to the quarter-finals after a 6-3 6-4 victory over Britain's Cameron Norrie.

The sixth seed from Montreal broke Norrie's serve late in the second set before serving out for the victory.

Norrie, the ninth seed, beat the Canadian in the semi-finals last week in Los Cabos, Mexico. It was his first victory over Auger-Aliassime in five tries on the ATP Tour.

with Associated Press

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