Andy Murray Goes Off After US Open Loss, Claims Opponent Tsitsipas Took Unfair Breaks

It was a tough night for tennis pro Andy Murray, who lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first-round of the US Open. And Murray now says he has lost all respect for Tsitsipas as a player.

What got Murray so fired up?

Murray claims that Tsitsipas gained an unfair advantage by taking a lengthy bathroom break and an opportune medical timeout.

"I think he's a brilliant player," Murray said. "I think he's great for the game. But I have zero time for that stuff at all, and I lost respect for him.

"It's just disappointing because I feel it influenced the outcome of the match. I'm not saying I necessarily win that match for sure, but it had influence on what was happening after those breaks."

The match lasted a whopping four hours and 49 minutes. Tsitsipas won the match 2-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The No. 3 seed and 2021 French Open finalist received medical treatment on his left foot after losing the third set.

After the fourth set, Tsitsipas went to the bathroom, which Murray mentioned in his post-match press conference. He said that he couldn't keep his body from cooling down during the break.

"The issue is that you cannot stop the way that that affects you physically," Murray said.

"When you're playing a brutal match like that, you know, stopping for seven, eight minutes, you do cool down. You can prepare for it mentally as much as you like, but it's the fact that it does affect you physically when you take a break that long, well, multiple times during the match.

"I think when he took the medical timeout, it was just after I had won the third set. Also in the fourth set when I had Love-30, he chose to go -- I don't know if he changed his racket or what he was doing. But, yeah, it can't be coincidence that it's happening at those moments.

"I don't believe was causing him any issue at all. The match went on for another two and a bit hours after that or something. He was fine, moving great, I thought."

Tsitsipas said he stayed within the rules and that he felt he won fair and square. He also said that he was changing his clothes in the bathroom.

"I don't think I broke any rules," he said. "I played by the guidelines, how everything is. Yeah, definitely something for both of us to kind of chat about and make sure. I don't know how my opponent feels when I'm out there playing the match. It's not really my priority.

"As far as I'm playing by the rules and sticking to what the ATP says is fair, then the rest is fine."



























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Matt has been a part of the Cleveland Sports landscape working in the media since 1994 when he graduated from broadcasting school. His coverage beats include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He's written three books, and won the "2020 AP Sports Stringer Lifetime Service Award."