Tennis is a physically demanding sport. The demands of the body increases at the professional level. The risks of injuries due to the added strain on the body also increases.
A medical timeout is a passage of three minutes that are officially given to a player in certain medical conditions. The decision on whether a player is allowed to take the medical timeout is made by the chair umpire.
A player can opt for a medical timeout in cases of an acute injury that occurs during the match. This can include sprains and blisters. Additionally, a medical timeout for cramps is usually allowed only if the weather conditions are extreme in terms of heat.
Health issues pertaining to fatigue, headache, cramps are not subject to a medical timeout as these are usually a result of improper conditioning of the player. If a player is bleeding out, then these should be managed within the span of three minutes. Should the healthcare team be unsuccessful in managing this, the umpire decides the extra time to be provided upon their discretion.
A player is not allowed more than two medical timeouts per match. If the player requires more than two medical timeouts, then they have to forfeit or withdraw from the match.
Ideally, a player is given a medical timeout during changeovers or between sets. Due to the timing of the medical timeout, players often fake injuries and extend the break between games or sets to break the momentum of the opponent. This is a grey area that has often created controversies.
A medical timeout in tennis is thus a provision that players can use for their rehabilitation.
