"Waiting for Chris Evert comment", "If Iga Swiatek did this?" - Fans allege double standards after Coco Gauff's bathroom break in US Open loss

Fans have compared the criticism Iga Swiatek received for taking a bathroom break after losing a set with the apparent lack of reaction when Coco Gauff did the same at the US Open. The American took breaks in consecutive matches after losing a set, most recently in her fourth-round loss against Emma Navarro.

Gauff's title defense at the US Open ended at the hands of compatriot Navarro. The 13th seed won the first set 6-3 and Gauff took a bathroom break following which she managed to win the second set 6-4. However, Navarro bagged the decider 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

In the third-round match against Elina Svitolina, Gauff took a bathroom break after losing the first set 6-3. The 20-year-old seemed to have composed herself and won the next two sets 6-3, 6-3 to advance.

One fan pointed out the bathroom breaks Gauff took in consecutive matches and the lack of reactions towards it. Many compared it to the criticism Swiatek has received for taking such timed breaks.

"There is always drama when Iga goes and there here we go," one fan wrote.

"And if iga did this?" another fan asked.

"I hope ya'll have all those toilet breaks thyt the girls take after losing the first set during this year's USO bookmared somehow and frickin ready to bring up when some idiot dares to complain about Iga Swiatek doing it in the future," a third fan wrote.

Here are more fan reactions to Gauff taking a bathroom break after losing a set in consecutive matches.

"Waiting for brilliant Chrissie [Chris Evert] comment ..: oh wait it’s coco … so it won’t come," one fan wrote.

"It’s not allowed to criticize Coco. She can do whatever she likes," another fan wrote.

One fan called former American players Lindsay Davenport and CoCo Vandeweghe the 'bathroom police' and wrote:

"Where’s the Bathroom Police aka Lindsay D and Coco V at?"

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Lindsay Davenport and CoCo Vandeweghe criticize Iga Swiatek's 'bad habit' of taking a bathroom break after losing a set

Iga Swiatek at the 2024 US Open. (Image: Getty)

Iga Swiatek came under criticism from multiple former American players due to her bathroom breaks during the 2024 Cincinnati Open. In the quarterfinal, the World No. 1 took a lengthy break after losing the first set to Mirra Andreeva following which she mounted a comeback to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Speaking on Tennis Channel, CoCo Vandeweghe said:

"It's been spoken about, Iga's tactic of going to the bathroom, changing her kit, taking her time, ALWAYS after losing a set. If I was still playing, I would definitely be very aware of it... she's trying to disrupt my rhythm..."

Further, she repeated the act in the semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka after losing the first set 6-3. However, the Belarusian was unfazed as she won the next set 6-3 to advance. Speaking to Tennis Channel, Lindsay Davenport said:

"It’s a bad habit that probably should start to be patrolled a little bit by the powers that be. Lose a set you leave the court…never used to be like that. But it happens every time."

At the US Open, Iga Swiatek is yet to lose a set. She defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 7-6(6), before ousting Ena Shibahara 6-0, 6-1 in the first and second rounds, respectively. In the third round, she defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-2 to set up a fourth-round clash against Liudmila Samsonova.