Ivanovic Survives Heavy Penalty

Written by: Staff on 16th October 2010

Ivanovic Survives Heavy Penalty

Ana Ivanovic (SRB) |

It could have been a very costly bathroom break for Ana Ivanovic. The Serb was docked four penalty points – effectively a whole game — yet still managed to win her Generali Ladies match over Barbora Zahlavova 6-3 6-2.

Ivanovic asked for a bathroom break after the opening game of the match, then left the court. When she returned, she found the umpire had assessed her one point for every 20 seconds she went over the time limit.

Calling it “a miscommunication,” Ivanovic said she thought she had been allowed to leave the court. “I felt a bit sick, so I had to go to the toilet,” Ivanovic told Austrian broadcaster ORF. “I asked the referee and I thought he granted me permission to go, so I was really surprised to be punished.” She said she got over the penalty points quickly. “It did not disturb my concentration, and it didn’t really matter because I won the match.”

Topics: Ana Ivanovic, Bathroom Break, Broadcaster, Concentration, Game, Generali Ladies, Match, Miscommunication, Penalty Points, Referee, Serb, Time Limit, Toilet, Umpire