Many rules of tennis a mystery to the game's stars

Douglas Robson, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — When reporters brought up the ATP Tour's new between-points time violation policy, Andy Murray wondered if it could be altered.

"I think maybe if we increased it to 25 (seconds) like it is in the Slams, then that would be the same rule across the whole of the sport," the third-ranked Scot said.

Well, not exactly. The Grand Slam tournaments have a 20-second rule; the ATP's is 25 seconds.

One assumes that professional athletes dedicating their lives to a sport they have been playing since childhood share a deep grasp of the rules. One would be mistaken.

Asked about a hot topic on the women's tour last week — the use or abuse of medical timeouts — former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki admitted ignorance.

"I don't exactly know the rules there to be honest," the Dane said. "Are you allowed to have two treatments on two injuries in one changeover? Is that what it is?"

Murray and Wozniacki need not be singled out for their murky understanding.

Over the last few days at the BNP Paribas Open, USA TODAY Sports queried a wide variety of players — rookies, veterans, doubles specialists, high-ranked, low-ranked, male and female — about regulations readily available in the Grand Slam rulebook.

More than 15 players answered a handful of questions, such as:

•How many medical timeouts are you allowed per match?

•How long after you are called to your court could you be defaulted?

•How many bathroom breaks per match are you permitted?

•How long are you permitted between points?

Not a single player answered all of them correctly.

"Jeez," said No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia after stumbling on several. "I'm misinformed."

Players, some slightly chagrined, offered different reasons for their lack of knowledge. Some cited laziness. Some said they didn't know the subtleties of rules they didn't know or that weren't enforced. Many said they relied on umpires to impose the rules.

Doubles specialist Jamie Murray of Scotland said he carefully tucks away the new rulebook he receives each year but rarely looks at it.

"I know where it is," he said. "It's collecting dust."

"I guess because the rulebook is like this thick and we're like, whatever," said 34-year-old Michael Russell holding his fingers about two inches apart. "Nobody really wants to open that book and read it. I guess we just leave it to the umpire to tell us what it is."

Former top-10 Germans Tommy Haas and Andrea Petkovic echoed the view of many players. They know the rules they need to know and don't pay attention to the rest.

"I never go for a toilet break," Petkovic said. "I do my business before."

All of this begs the question: Wouldn't it behoove them to know the rules better, especially when they argue with officials?

Not necessarily, according to Paul Annacone, the American who coached Pete Sampras and now works with Roger Federer.

"That's how people deal with pressure," said Annacone. "They complain."

Annacone added that if a player is focusing on rules he or she is missing the point.

"I generally don't think any of those things should have a bearing on whether you win or lose and for me as a coach that's a good thing," Annacone said.

Madison Keys, 18, laughed repeatedly as she tried to dig up answers.

"Toilet breaks? Two? I'm totally guessing here," she said. "Time between points? It feels like 10, but is it 30?"

"Dang, I need to figure this stuff out," she continued. "After realizing I have no idea what any of the rules are I should probably go look at them."