Why Rafael Jódar’s shoelaces are at the center of a debate over dark arts in tennis

Nineteen-year-old Spanish tennis player Rafael Jódar defeated Canada's Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the second round of the Cincinnati Open after recovering from 5-1 down in the deciding set. During the match, Jódar's shoelaces broke twice — at 4-1 and 5-3 down in the final set — triggering equipment timeouts that frustrated Shapovalov, with the second stoppage being notably lengthy due to an insole issue requiring assistance from Jódar's father and coach. The incident has sparked debate about the use of equipment timeouts as a tactical tool, or 'dark art,' in professional tennis.