Do tennis players go off court for a break before the next set when a set concludes after an even number of games?


The USTA rule for Changeovers have the following:

  • 90 sec changeover break between odd games
  • 120 sec changeover break between sets (regardless if the set ended even)
  • A bathroom break can be taken at anytime but it is preferred it during a changeover and the duration is reasonable

For ATP the Rule book has the following for a toilet break (90/120sec rules also apply as above):


O. Toilet Break


It does come down to the specific organisation running the game but generally the rules are consistent.

Injury is more detailed and depends on its severity, but I would not call that so much as a 'break'


Leave the court for a break is not expected during tennis matches even if the previous set was very long.

It can happened that a very long match is interrupped by the umpire because of the hours (see Isner-Mahut match details)

Different from what are you asking is the break ask by the tennis player because of a little injury (eg blisters) or to go to the toilet


Going off court is one thing, having a changeover is another. You can have a changeover even if there's an even number of games. It would be kind of strange not to give players a rest after playing a full set.

Of course, the rules can differ from tournament to tournament and from organizer to organizer. But the standard thing is for the players to have a changeover break at the end of a set, no matter what.

But one thing is for sure: when you do end on an even number at the end of a set, you don't switch sides after you've had a break. That's one thing that will always remain the same no matter in what tournament your playing in.

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