By Amy Shipley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 2, 1998; Page E8

PARIS, June 1 — An extensive discussion about whether Anna Kournikova should have been permitted to use the bathroom — and whether she really had to go — during her fourth-round 6-7 (7-2), 6-3, 6-3 loss at the French Open to Jana Novotna dominated the post-match talk today.

The final three games of the match, which was stopped because of darkness Sunday night with Novotna leading 4-2 in the third set, took place today. The dispute resulted from Kournikova's request Sunday to use the bathroom. At the time, she trailed 4-1 in the third set. Her request came moments after requesting a stoppage in play because of darkness — a request that also was denied by the chair umpire.

Women's Tennis Association officials released a statement today explaining that a match may be postponed because of darkness only at the end of a set or after an even number of games have been played in the set in progress. The Kournikova-Novotna match was stopped after one more service game.

About the bathroom break, the WTA stated: "Tournament officials felt the toilet break should have been requested at the change of ends."

"In the rule book, it says I can go anytime, even during a point," Kournikova said. The referee that came on the court, he just said, 'You have to continue playing.'‚"

The Kids Aren't All Right
After defending French Open champion Iva Majoli defeated Conchita Martinez in today's fourth-round match, 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (7-3), 6-3, Majoli unleashed hard words on the "younger generation" of tennis players, specifically to 17-year-old Venus Williams and 15-year-old Serena Williams.

"The younger generation, they have this attitude like, 'We are the best,'‚" Majoli, 20, said. "I'm sure it will change in a year or two when they grow up and realize they don't have to be mean."