Jelena Dokic weighs in after outfit change sparks US Open drama

Jelena Dokic has weighed in after an outfit change caused drama at the US Open amid calls for tennis rule makers to make a change.

Czechia’s Karolina Muchova is facing criticism from the tennis community for taking an extended pause during her straight-sets quarterfinals win over Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday at the U.S. Open.

Muchova, who is ranked No. 10 in the world, left the court after her first-set victory versus Cirstea, 6-0, as the temperature in Flushing Meadows inched closer to the low 90s, the NY Post reports.

A tense exchange then unfolded between Cirstea and the chair umpire, with the Romanian athlete ready to continue playing.

“I am the one waiting for her to serve,” the 33-year-old Cirstea said.

“I don’t understand what you want from me.”

Former Australian tennis pro Jelena Dokic also weighed in on Muchova’s curious action, which apparently was an outfit change.

“She went for a change of shirt and usually you don’t do that when you’ve got the momentum,” Dokic commentated for Australia’s Channel 9.

“Not only the momentum but she won 6-0.”

Karolina Muchova enraged onlookers with her extended break. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Sorana Cirstea was fuming at the extended outfit change. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Dokic, now 40, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open during her playing career in 2000 and 2001 before retiring in 2014.

As for Muchova, who was knocked out of the first round of last year’s U.S. Open by Aryna Sabalenka, she’s gearing up for a semi-finals showdown against American teen Coco Gauff on Thursday.

“I remember last year I was really struggling with injury,” Muchova said.

“I lost here first round and I couldn’t continue, so yeah, just really glad to be competing.”

The 27-year-old Muchova reached the finals of the French Open earlier this year and lost to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in three sets.

Muchova faced Gauff last month in the final of the Cincinnati Open, with the 19-year-old American taking down her opponent, 6-3, 6-4.

Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic (R) celebrates match point against Sorana Cirstea of Romania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Aussie tennis great Todd Woodbridge fumed over the issue on Monday when Daniil Medvedev took a 20-minute break after he lost the first set to Alex de Minaur.

“Why do you need to leave the court for that long?” Woodbridge told Channel 9.

“It’s not a toilet break, is he changing his full kit? Shouldn’t that be at a certain time? I tell you, I think our sport really has to do something about these changeovers.

“It’s just such a crutch that everyone seems to go to when they’re down, and it’s just not part of the game.

“It shouldn’t be there, I implore our rules officials to get in and stop all this stuff going on, because it’s just momentum changes in matches that we shouldn’t have.

“Let’s keep the game moving. It’s not great for us as broadcasters, and I think it’s really gamesmanship and it needs to be taken out.

“It’s such an annoying part of our game. You’re not supposed to be doing this. And the umpire is letting him get away with it”.

- This article first appeared on NY Post and was republished with permission.