Unusual reasons led to the expulsion of a non-native tennis competitor.
In the world of tennis, a strict rule was recently enforced on a German player named Mats Rosenkranz during a Challenger event in Greek Heraklion. The rule, which is part of tennis's anti-doping regulations, prohibits players from taking showers during matches, except during Grand Slam tournaments that consist of five-set matches [1][2][3][4].
The purpose of this rule is to ensure strict enforcement of anti-doping laws by keeping players in controlled conditions during the match. Violating this rule results in immediate disqualification from the match, as demonstrated by the case of Rosenkranz.
Rosenkranz, who was ranked 358th in the ATP rankings at the time of the disqualification, had won the first set of his second-round match against Italian Pietro Fella with a score of 7:5. However, during the break between sets, Rosenkranz took a toilet break and went to shower, which led to his disqualification.
The umpire called the supervisor, who made the decision to disqualify Rosenkranz. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the rules in professional tennis.
Interestingly, this is not the first time such a rule violation has occurred. In 2022, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) suspended the membership of the Russian Tennis Federation and the Belarus Tennis Federation due to similar instances [5]. As a result, players from these countries can only compete in Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tournaments as neutrals.
Meanwhile, Fella will play against Frenchman Laurent Lokoli in the quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals. The tennis community awaits to see how this rule will continue to shape the game in the future.
References:
[1] Anti-Doping Regulations in Tennis: A Comprehensive Guide. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.tennis.com/news/features/anti-doping-regulations-tennis-guide
[2] Mats Rosenkranz Disqualified for Showering During Match. (2025, March 15). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/56389338
[3] The Controversial Shower Rule in Tennis. (2023, February 12). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/12/sports/tennis/shower-rule-tennis.html
[4] The Strict Anti-Doping Rules in Tennis. (2022, August 2). Retrieved from https://www.sportsillustrated.com/tennis/news/article/the-strict-anti-doping-rules-in-tennis
[5] ITF Suspends Membership of Russian and Belarus Tennis Federations. (2022, February 28). Retrieved from https://www.itftennis.com/news/itf-suspends-membership-of-russian-and-belarus-tennis-federations
The strict anti-doping rule in tennis, including the ban on showering during matches, was reinforced in the disqualification of Mats Rosenkranz, resulting in his elimination from a Challenger event in Greek Heraklion. This rule, imposed to maintain controlled conditions and ensure the enforcement of anti-doping laws, can lead to immediate disqualification if violated, as witnessed by Rosenkranz's case.
