2021 Tennis

[Buzzo]

Definitely

I was playing tennis to a decent-ish club standard until relatively recently (Lockdown) I played in a tournament that was one set head to head. If I came up against a decent player and we went to a tie break the set took about an hour.

I was absolutely wrecked at the end of that hour.

How they do it for 5, at elite level and intensity defies belief.

[Pablo]

Tsitsipas is very good, but a bit of a bellend. Would have loved to see a Murray in his prime smash him in straight sets.

Thought Murray looked very good. He looks absolutely ripped, you can see his abs through his t-shirt FFS Not sure how he can get much fitter, but the top level tennis players are at an almost unbelievable level of fitness. 5 hours matches without ever seeming to tire.

[Buzzo]

Murray doesnt miss a thing. Tsitsipas going to change his racquet at 0-30 was maximum ****-housery. He is effectively re-setting.

Andy Murray says he "lost respect" for third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas during a feisty US Open match where the Briton accused his opponent of "cheating" by taking lengthy bathroom breaks.

Murray was angered by the Greek having an eight-minute toilet break before the fifth set of their first-round match.

Tsitsipas, 23, then won the decider for a 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory.

"It's not so much leaving the court. It's the amount of time," Murray said. "It's nonsense and he knows it."

The three-time Grand Slam champion added: "That's annoying for me because it sounds like sour grapes because you've lost a match.

"I would have said the same thing if I'd won, I promise."


I think it's nonsense and Tsitsipas knows it - Murray
Murray shows glimpses of best but Tsitsipas fights back to win US Open clash
Tsitsipas, who did not break any rules, also left court for a toilet break at the end of the second set and had a medical time-out for treatment on a foot injury before the fourth set.

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

During the final set, where Murray was decisively broken in the first game, the 34-year-old Scot could be heard shouting towards his box: "It is cheating."

He also complained to chair umpire Nico Helwerth and US Open match supervisor Gerry Armstrong about the length of time taken by Tsitsipas.

"It's never taken me that long to go to the bathroom ever," Murray told Armstrong.

Tsitsipas said afterwards he has correctly followed the guidelines throughout his career.

Explaining the length of time, the French Open finalist added: "I think it's clear that I took my clothes with me when I left the court.

"That's the amount of time it takes for me to change my clothes and to walk back to the court takes a little bit of time."

Players are allowed two breaks for using the toilet and changing clothes in a five-set match, with breaks only permitted at the end of a set.

"A player may request permission to leave the court for a reasonable time for a toilet break," Grand Slam rules state.

When asked if he could understand Murray's anger, Tsitsipas said: "If there's something that he has to tell me, the two of us should speak to understand what went wrong.

"I don't think I broke any rules. I don't know how my opponent feels when I'm out there playing the match. It's not really my priority."

Murray said long breaks in such a "brutal" match can affect players physically and called for the rules to be changed "because it's not good for the sport, it's not good for TV, it's not good for fans".

"Every single time it was before my serve, as well. Also in the fourth set when I had 0-30, he chose to go and I think he changed his racquet," the former world number one added.

"It can't be coincidence that it's happening at those moments.

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

[Buzzo]

He played well, just doesn't have the fitness levels at the moment but that's the most encouraging signs I've seen of his game still being there or there abouts

agreed he was great. He ran out of gas, but that is understandable. Where can he take this? It will be interesting to find out.

[RichC]

He played well, just doesn't have the fitness levels at the moment but that's the most encouraging signs I've seen of his game still being there or there abouts

[Buzzo]

Tsitispas channelled full on Djokovic there.

He really did. Its absolute **** house tactics during a 5 hour match, and Murray would never do the same (his 'can I take an injury time out' gag before the final game was very pointed).

Some encouraging signs for Andy though, and kudos to his surgeon.

[RichC]

Tsitispas channelled full on Djokovic there.

[Buzzo]

Tsitsipas wins in 5. Murray lost momentum start of the 4th.

Murray still raging about Tsitsipas cheating

Loudly “It’s a ****ing joke”

[Buzzo]

Now or never for the break.

Murray just asked for the trainer, just a wind up

He’s had that done to him many many times Novak.

[Buzzo]

I’m loving the no line judges thing.

[Buzzo]

Still going on about it

Like a superhero in his quest for justice.

They both look ****ed. I think Tsitsipas is going to hold on. 4 hours and 45 mins - just crazy levels of fitness required.

[Shaggy]

Still going on about it

[Shaggy]

His head's gone here. He's right, Tsitsipas was cheating but he's gotta let it go.

[Buzzo]

His best Tennis is still unreal. It’s just his fitness

Going toe to toe today though

[Shaggy]

This is incredible. I thought he'd get pasted in straight sets.