What Martina Navratilova said she only did once in 1,700 matches that Iga Swiatek and Mirra Andreeva have both been criticized for doing this year

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Iga Swiatek and Mirra Andreeva have enjoyed strong starts to their 2025 campaigns, but both have received criticism at times.

World number two Swiatek was a point away from the Australian Open final in January when she narrowly fell to defeat against Madison Keys.

Russian youngster Andreeva then beat Swiatek on her way to a maiden WTA 1000 title at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.

Doubling her tally in California, Andreeva won Indian Wells, beating the world’s top two players, Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in back-to-back matches.

Both players have received criticism in 2025, however, for their use of toilet breaks, which many consider to be ‘tactical.’

One WTA legend gave her thoughts on how often players really need to use the toilet during matches in an interview last year.

Martina Navratilova previously said she only used the toilet once in 1,700 singles matches during her career

During an interview with Sky Sports in 2024, former world number one Martina Navratilova revealed the number of times she went to the toilet during her singles career.

“In my whole career, playing about 1,700 matches in singles, I went to the bathroom once, during a match,” she said.

“Most players do not need to go to the toilet when they’re playing.”

The 18-time Major champion did, however, admit that things were different in doubles.

“Well, it happened to me only in doubles, because after you play singles then the body kind of shuts down during the singles,” said Navratilova.

“Then during the doubles, I might have to go during that match.”

Navratilova’s comments would suggest Andreeva and Swiatek’s use of toilet breaks in 2025 may have been excessive.

Andreeva left the court after the first set of her Indian Wells final with Sabalenka, explaining after the match how the toilet break helped her secure the win.

“After I went on a toilet break, I tried to think and calm myself down. I looked in the mirror and said a lot of positive things, even though it wasn’t easy,” said Andreeva.

“Just like that, I tried to bring myself back, and in the end, it worked.”

Tennis fans also expressed their disappointment in Swiatek after she did the same against Keys in their Australian Open semi-final match.

After dropping the second set, 1-6, Swiatek left the court for a toilet break and, upon her return, could be seen practising her shots while Keys waited to begin the deciding set.

It was the American who prevailed in a tense third-set tiebreaker, advancing to the Australian Open final, where she beat Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam.

What is the official WTA ruling on toilet breaks?

Swiatek and Andreeva have been criticised for their use of toilet breaks, but are they actually doing anything wrong?

The official 2025 WTA rulebook says the following about toilet breaks.

• A player may request permission to leave the court for a toilet break, a change of attire break, or both (“Authorized Break”), but for no other reason.

The time allotted for each authorized break is also clearly outlined.

Punishments for violations of the rules are also explained in detail.

• If a player’s Authorized Break exceeds the allowed time, she will be penalized with back-to-back Time Violations in accordance with Section VII.G.2.a
• Breaks taken beyond a player’s or team’s Authorized Break(s) or taken at times other than those permitted for Authorized Breaks (“Additional Breaks”) will be permitted but will be penalized with back to-back Time Violations in accordance with Section VII.G.2.a if the player or team is not ready to play within the applicable time.
• Any time a player leaves the court for a toilet break or change of attire break after a warm-up has started, it is considered an Authorized Break or Additional Break, regardless of whether the player’s opponent has left the court.
• A player may not take a toilet break or change of attire break and a Medical Time Out consecutively, unless approved by the Referee/Supervisor.

It remains to be seen if Swiatek and Andreeva will follow the rules for the remainder of the season but it will certainly be something to watch out for.

The pair are expected to return to action at the Stuttgart Open, which begins on April 14.