Andy Murray fumes over excessively long bathroom break by opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas at US Open

Former U.S. Open champion Andy Murray was fuming towards the top of his first-round loss to No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Monday — and properly afterwards — over what he seen as an unethically lengthy lavatory break earlier than the decisive fifth set. Tsitsipas additionally took a medical timeout after dropping the third set to Murray to have the trainers have a look at a foot harm. 

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Andy Murray reacts throughout his first-round match towards No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on the US Open.

Instantly after the toilet break, which clocked in at roughly eight minutes, Tsitsipas broke Murray’s serve and held on for an eventual 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Murray complained loudly about it to the chair umpire all through the fifth set and provided an icy handshake on the web following match level. 

Even after cooling down briefly within the locker room, Murray didn’t hesitate to unload on Tsitsipas’ techniques.

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“It is simply disappointing as a result of I really feel it influenced the end result of the match,” Murray stated. “I am not saying I essentially win that match, for positive, nevertheless it had affect on what was occurring after these breaks. I believe he is a superb participant. I believe he is nice for the sport. However I’ve zero time for that stuff in any respect, and I misplaced respect for him.”

Andy Murray clearly sad with Stefanos Tsitsipas’ prolonged rest room breaks! Lashes out on the supervisor#USOpen pic.twitter.com/24haG7r7g0

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Murray, who’s 34 years outdated and trying to return again after having a serious hip surgical procedure in 2019, stated he is aware of his feedback may very well be construed as bitter grapes however stated he’d have come into the press convention saying the identical factor if he’d gained. And he’s not the one participant to take problem with Tsitsipas’ prolonged journeys to the toilet after units.

In reality, on the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati fewer than two weeks in the past, Alexander Zverev accused Tsitsipas throughout their semifinal match of taking his mobile phone into the restroom after dropping the primary set and texting together with his coach and father Apostolos, which isn’t allowed on the ATP Tour. 

Zverev had no proof that Tsitsipas broke any guidelines, however on the very least, the lengthy restroom breaks may be seen as an try to disrupt rhythm or frustrate an opponent — and Tsitsipas has gained a repute for abusing that loophole.

Tsitsipas dismissed the Zverev accusations because the product of his creativeness — “I’ve by no means in my profession performed that,” he stated — and defended his use of the toilet breaks.

“I believe it’s clear that I took my garments with me after I left the court docket, and that’s the period of time it takes for me to alter my garments and are available again to the court docket — takes somewhat little bit of time,” he stated. “So far as I do know you are allowed to have two rest room breaks to alter garments in a 5 setter and one in a 3 setter, so I’ve adopted that all through my profession and by no means damaged any guidelines so I see no cause that that is an issue in any case.”

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Murray stated the problem isn’t taking the breaks however the period of time Tsitsipas was off the court docket, which allowed his physique to chill down and stiffen up earlier than going proper again into the match. He may very well be heard on the court docket saying that Tsitsipas was dishonest by taking so lengthy.

“He is aware of. The opposite gamers know. The truth that I used to be speaking to my workforce about it earlier than the match, we knew it was coming,” Murray stated. “You might argue that I should not let that have an effect on me. However genuinely it’s tough, like, whenever you’re enjoying such a brutal match in these situations to have these breaks. Bodily you’ll be able to’t cease that from affecting you. Mentally, sure, however bodily you’ll be able to’t.”

Utilizing lavatory breaks and pointless medical timeouts as a tactical ploy has lengthy been a subject on tour, nevertheless it’s unclear what the tennis excursions ought to do about it as a result of there are clearly conditions the place gamers want to go away the court docket and both get therapy, use the restroom or shortly grow to be dry garments. 

“If individuals do not care sufficient about it to alter, then that is advantageous,” Murray stated. “I will converse to my workforce about it. I will hearken to what, I do not know, followers, gamers, and every part are saying about it. Possibly I am being unreasonable. Possibly I am overreacting to one thing as a result of I misplaced the match. However, yeah, proper now sitting right here I really feel prefer it’s nonsense and they should make a change as a result of it isn’t good for the game, it isn’t good for TV, it isn’t good for followers.

“I do not suppose it is a good search for the gamers both. I am sitting in right here after a match like that towards among the best gamers on the earth, and quite than speaking about how incredible he’s, how good he’s for the sport, how nice it was for me that I used to be capable of placed on a efficiency like that after every part that is gone on the final 4 years, however I am sitting in right here speaking about lavatory breaks and medical timeouts and delays in matches. That is garbage. I do not suppose that that is proper.”

Tsitsipas stated he appears as much as Murray and would attempt to converse with him one-on-one concerning the problem. 

“If there’s one thing that he has to inform me, we must always converse the 2 of us to know what went mistaken,” Tsitsipas stated. “I don’t suppose I broke any guidelines. I performed by the rules and the way every part is. It’s undoubtedly one thing for each of us to form of chat about as a result of I don’t understand how my opponent feels after I’m on the market enjoying the match. It’s probably not my precedence. I’m enjoying by the principles and sticking to what the ATP says is truthful, so the remaining is okay.”

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Andy Murray fumes over excessively long bathroom break by opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas at US Open