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Carlos Alcaraz has questioned the timing of Stefanos Tsitsipas' bathroom break following his Barcelona quarter-final win over the Greek.
Tsitsipas, who successfully defended his Monte-Carlo title last week, fell to the Spanish teenager in three sets. The Greek once again made headlines after taking a long break to change his shirt after going 3-0 down in the decider. Tsitsipas received two separate point penalties and was hit with a time violation when he came back out to serve.
During his post-match press conference, Alcaraz said he had never seen a player take such a long break in the middle of a set.
"Sincerely I dont know. I've never seen anyone go to the bathroom in the middle of a set. I don't know the exact rule, but I do know that it was a warning, although I don't know what it was. But that, I had never seen."
Alcaraz added that Tsitsipas tried to disrupt his rhythm by taking the break and was glad that he did not lose his own focus.
"Honestly, yes, I think it was. The bathroom was far away, and he wanted to do the same, stop the rhythm with which he had been leading in the third set and he didn't succeed, that's the good thing."
The 18-year-old will take on Alex de Minaur for a place in the final.
Carlos Alcaraz has had a breakout 2022 campaign
Carlos Alcaraz has had a 2022 campaign to remember. After a third-round exit at the Australian Open, where he lost to Matteo Berrettini in a fifth set tie-break, the 18-year-old won the title in Rio de Janeiro.
The Spaniard followed that up by making an inspired run to the Indian Wells semis, where he fell to compatriot Rafael Nadal in a grueling three-setter.
Alcaraz dropped only one set in six matches in Miami as he became the third youngest winner of a Masters 1000 title. He beat Tsitsipas in the round of 16 before getting the better of Norwegian Casper Ruud in the title match.
The Spaniard was beaten in his Monte-Carlo opener by Sebastian Korda in three sets. However, he has bounced back with three straight wins to reach the last four in Barcelona.
