Medical timeout

A medical timeout is a stoppage for treatment during a match. The physiotherapist first evaluates the player; if more time is needed, the referee or chair umpire allows a timeout limited to three minutes of treatment, which starts when the physiotherapist is ready to begin. It is normally taken at a changeover or set break, unless the condition is acute and needs immediate attention. A player gets one medical timeout for each distinct treatable condition; two in a row are allowed only if the physiotherapist finds two separate acute conditions.

When you see it

The broadcast shows the trainer arriving with a bag and a clock starting. Some things are not medical timeouts: muscle cramping may be treated only during the ordinary time at changeovers and set breaks, and a player who stops play claiming an acute condition but is found to be cramping is ordered to resume immediately. Bleeding is handled separately, with up to five minutes allowed to control it at the majors. Any delay after the timeout is penalised as delay of game. A player who cannot continue retires; a player who cannot start hands the opponent a walkover.

Rule basis

Grand Slam Rule Book 2026, medical section (Medical Time-Out, Muscle Cramping, Bleeding, Penalty); ATP Official Rulebook, Chapter VII, medical rule, which has the same three-minute limit and one-per-condition principle.