Aryna Sabalenka’s Behavior Nearly Breaking Wimbledon Rule Called Out By Fans: “Get Out”

Aryna Sabalenka stalked toward the baseline, jaw clenched, eyes fixed somewhere past the net. The tension was already thick on Court No. 1 as she prepared to serve during the fifth game, but it wasn’t just the scoreline gnawing at her nerves. Moments earlier, the Belarusian had motioned impatiently for the ball, visibly irked as the ball kids took longer than expected. With the crowd murmuring and Siegemund waiting at the ready, Sabalenka threw her arms up in frustration. She rolled her eyes, and after finally receiving the balls, swatted a couple of them back across the net—a pointed gesture not lost on fans or cameras.

Across from her stood Laura Siegemund, steady and surgical. The 37-year-old German, ranked No. 104 in the world, was playing like she had nothing to lose. With feather-light drop shots and knifing slices that kissed the chalk, she frustrated Sabalenka into rushed errors. Her timing was impeccable, and her rhythm unshakable—even if she faltered briefly when serving for the set. At 5-3, Siegemund double-faulted twice, allowing Sabalenka to claw back to 5-4. But she didn’t waver for long, sealing the set 6-4 with an unreturned serve on her second attempt.

By then, the damage was done—not just on the scoreboard, but mentally. Sabalenka, known for her ferocity and emotional edge, slumped in her chair during the changeover, towel over her face. Her usual intensity was still there, but it had morphed into agitation. The crowd, sensing the shift, fell into a quiet murmur again. Then came the break—the one that had fans talking just as much as the tennis itself.

Sabalenka took a bathroom break that reportedly stretched to six minutes. According to Wimbledon’s official rules, players are permitted only a five-minute break for a bathroom visit. While the chair umpire did not appear to issue a time violation, many viewers online weren’t happy.

Fans react to Aryna Sabalenka’s long break

Several fans took to X to express their disapproval of Aryna Sabalenka, calling out what they saw as double standards. “Sabalenka 6 minute toilet break after losing a set but no one is talking about it, different standards always for some players,” one fan wrote.

Bathroom breaks have long been a hot-button issue in tennis, with fans and commentators frequently questioning whether some players use them to disrupt their opponents’ momentum.

Top Comment by Adora Avboraye

Yes sabalika has an attitude problem she need to treat people the way she wants to be treated

Share your take

Debate

Another chimed in, “Not Sabalenka using Iga’s bathroom tactics? Girl get out 💀”

Iga Swiatek has often found herself in the spotlight, not just for her dominance on the court, but for her bathroom breaks too. During her Australian Open semifinal clash against Madison Keys, the Pole took a bathroom break that lasted nine minutes, sparking fresh debates about gamesmanship. And it’s not just breaks. Swiatek even drew criticism for a bizarre “warmup” routine in the middle of her match against Keys, which further fueled the fire.

Echoing the sentiment, a third added, “Sabalenka went on a toilet break after losing a set! Once again: Sabalenka went on a toilet break after losing a set! Where are you, toilet police? Oh, you’re not here because it’s not Iga Świątek, I get it.”

During a third-round match at Wimbledon last year, Yulia Putintseva was visibly frustrated as she repeatedly asked the umpire what was going on while Swiatek took an extended break at the end of the second set. The crowd then booed Świątek when she returned to the court, and she went on to lose the match.

Another fan made a similar statement and said, “And now no one talks about toilet break but when Iga takes it, it’s the end of the world lol, double standards”

Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, isn’t new to fan backlash either. After losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff, she faced criticism for her post-match remarks. Sabalenka called it “the worst final I ever played” and went on to suggest that Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had she made it past Sabalenka in the semis. However, any tension between the two stars seemed to be squashed at Wimbledon. Sabalenka offered an apology, and the pair were later seen filming TikTok videos together, putting the controversy to rest

One fan wrote, “I’d like to report a crime. The WTA world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has left the court for a bathroom break after losing the first set of her Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Laura Siegemund.”

Interestingly, the World No.1’s quarterfinal opponent at Wimbledon, Laura Siegemund, has also experienced the sting of fan disapproval. At the 2023 U.S. Open, during her match against Coco Gauff, Siegemund was booed by the crowd for her slow pace of play. Gauff herself complained to the umpire mid-match, and the situation escalated to the point where Siegemund received a point penalty for delay.

After the match, an emotional Siegemund said, “I am very, very disappointed of the way people treated me today … they had no respect for me,” as she addressed the media.

From long toilet breaks to slow play and controversial comments, these moments continue to stir debate about the fine line between strategy and sportsmanship in tennis. Follow the Championships in real-time with EssentiallySports’ Live Blog updates.