Tsitsipas’ mother opens up on Djokovic’s “infinitely long” toilet break during French Open 2021 final
Novak Djokovic recovered from a two-set deficit against Stefanos Tsitsipas to claim the 2021 Roland Garros title
Novak Djokovic‘s name has been synonymous with comebacks, especially the ones involving a two-set deficit. At the Grand Slams, Djokovic has recovered from being 0-2 down on an impressive eight occasions over the year.
The Serbian’s sixth such feat came against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2021 French Open final, where he registered a famous 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory to claim his second Roland Garros championship.
Notably, Tsitsipas was cruising toward his maiden Major milestone until the now 24-time Grand Slam champion opted for a toilet break after the second set. And the Greek’s mother Yulia Salnikova saw it all unfold in front of her eyes.
“When Novak went for a toilet break, which lasted, from my point of view because we were sitting and waiting, an infinitely long time,” Salnikova told Mr. Tennis | Dychkovsky on YouTube (via Championat; translated). But everything was according to the rules there, in fact. And when he came back, I already knew that Novak would win.”
Yulia apparently opined the Serbian’s move would be considered ungracious to the opponent in an unofficial setting.
“He came back a different person,” she added. “How did this happen? A question for Novak. Well, it’s a miracle. It’s a miracle. If this is allowed by the rules… Probably, if you play with your best friend somewhere on the lawn, not for money, but just like that, of course, it would be disrespectful. But here, ‘Excuse me, everything is according to the rules.'”