Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andy Murray shared a frosty handshake after their US Open matchVenue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 30 August-12 September Protection: Every day radio commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Reside Sports activities Further/BBC Sport web site and app, with chosen dwell textual content commentaries and match studies on the web site and app
Stefanos Tsitsipas discovered himself the butt of the jokes on the US Open after Andy Murray aimed one other jibe on the Greek third seed within the row over lengthy rest room breaks.
After shedding to him on Monday, Britain’s Murray mentioned he “misplaced respect” for Tsitsipas and accused his opponent of “dishonest” by going off courtroom for eight minutes, though the Greek didn’t break any guidelines.
Murray was not within the temper to let the problem slide, although, even after an evening sleeping on it.
On Tuesday, he joked it took much less time for American billionaire Jeff Bezos to fly into area than Tsitsipas spent in the bathroom.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev joined in when discussing the favourites for the title, saying: “Stefanos can play properly – if he would not go to the moon and again for a bathroom break, that can even assist. I needed to, I am sorry.”
Whereas Murray made loads of individuals chuckle along with his dig – with greater than 74,000 likes and 14,000 retweets, his third hottest tweet of the 12 months – it was designed to additional spotlight a difficulty which he mentioned is “not good for the game”.
“I really like that Andy went to sleep final night time with feelings working excessive and has woken up this morning and doubled down on his opinion,” former British primary Laura Robson mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Reside.
“He isn’t the primary participant to complain about this challenge.”
Why is Tsitsipas gaining a fame?
Tsitsipas, 23, has gained a fame as somebody who takes lengthy breaks throughout matches, with Murray turning into the most recent to query why.
Murray mentioned he had anticipated the French Open runner-up to go off courtroom and instructed his group to organize for lengthy breaks “if issues weren’t going his method”.
Fourth seed Zverev claimed the Greek was doing it “each match”.
“It is not regular. It occurred to me within the French Open, to Novak Djokovic on the closing of the French Open,” Zverev mentioned.
“I believe in Hamburg in opposition to Filip Krajinovic he was complaining, in opposition to me in Cincinnati it was ridiculous, and now right here once more. I believe gamers are catching up on that.”
After their current Cincinnati Masters semi-final, Zverev accused Tsitsipas of utilizing breaks to speak to his father and coach Apostolos mid-match – which isn’t allowed on the ATP Tour and which the Greek has strongly denied.
Requested once more about that incident at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, Zverev mentioned: “He is gone for 10-plus minutes. His dad is texting on the cellphone. He comes out, and hastily his tactic fully modified.
“It is not simply me however everyone noticed it. The entire sport plan modifications.
“I am like both it is a very magical place he goes to or there’s communication there.”
Tsitsipas mentioned he had “by no means in my profession accomplished that” when requested concerning the accusation of communication.
“I do not know what sort of creativeness it takes to go to that time,” he mentioned. “That is not one thing I wish to take critically as a result of it is completely ridiculous to be enthusiastic about that.”
Three-time Grand Slam champion Tracy Austin proposed this potential resolution because the row over bathrooms breaks in tennis continued on Tuesday
Australian participant Nick Kyrgios, by no means one to shrink back from controversy, additionally weighed in.
“What number of quantity twos does this man take?” he cheekily replied to a US Open Instagram put up asserting Tsitsipas’ win in opposition to Murray.
Throughout his match in opposition to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, Kyrgios additionally introduced up the problem.
After the Australian complained about having to stroll to get a towel, umpire Carlos Bernardes instructed him it was “a part of the sport”.
“It is not a part of the sport,” Kyrgios replied. “So texting somebody is a part of the sport too? Taking 20-minute rest room breaks is a part of the sport?”
Is Tsitsipas doing something fallacious?
Tsitsipas, who has gained extra matches on the ATP Tour this 12 months than every other participant, didn’t break any guidelines in opposition to Murray.
Gamers are allowed two breaks for utilizing the bathroom and altering garments in a five-set match, with breaks solely permitted on the finish of a set.
“A participant could request permission to depart the courtroom for an inexpensive time for a bathroom break,” Grand Slam guidelines state.
In addition to the eight-minute break on the finish of the fourth set, Tsitsipas additionally left courtroom for a bathroom break on the finish of the second set and had a medical time-out for therapy on a foot damage earlier than the fourth set.
Tsitsipas mentioned afterwards he has appropriately adopted the rules all through his profession.
Whereas a lot of his friends had been crucial of his actions, Tsitsipas did discover himself an ally in American participant Reilly Opelka.
Opelka mentioned the flak given to the Greek was “ridiculous” and criticised the response of journalists who “have by no means stepped foot on a tennis courtroom of their life”.
“I perceive it is getting press as a result of tennis is lame and tennis media sucks and so they’re horrible,” he mentioned.
“To vary or to go after, you recognize, two units we’re ingesting, we’re hydrating so much, now we have to make use of the toilet.
“To vary my socks, footwear, my inserts in my footwear, shorts, shirt, all the things, the entire 9 yards, hat, it takes 5, six minutes. Then by the point I stroll to and from the courtroom.
“I strictly go to alter as a result of it is sizzling and it is humid.
“If individuals do not perceive that, then clearly they’ve by no means spent a day within the lifetime of an expert athlete or come near it.”
Do the foundations want altering?
In his post-match interview, Murray known as for the foundations round rest room breaks to be modified – a suggestion which has been supported by many within the sport.
British doubles participant Naomi Broady agrees and says what Tsitsipas is doing quantities to “gamesmanship”.
“He is undoubtedly throughout the guidelines nevertheless it’s the foundations that want amending,” she mentioned on BBC Radio 5 dwell.
“There isn’t a time restrict for a way lengthy you’ll be able to depart the courtroom for. It is not solely the psychological facet – you are distracting your opponent, attempting to interrupt their rhythm – nevertheless it’s your physique.
“Your physique has cooled down. Andy needed to come out and be the one to serve and I believe he received damaged.”
