Andy Murray ‘lost respect’ for Stefanos Tsitsipas during long breaks at the 2021 US Open | Launderer report

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Andy Murray particularly objected to what he believed to be Stefanos Tsitsipas’ blocking tactic when they met at the US Open on Monday.

“I think he’s a brilliant player,” Murray told reporters after his loss in five sets. “I think he’s good for the game. But I don’t have any time for that sort of thing, and I’ve lost respect for him.”

Tsitsipas had a medical timeout after the third set for an apparent foot injury, then took a bathroom break between the fourth and fifth frames. During the fifth set, Murray expressed his frustration how long the Greek star had been in the locker room.

The three-time Grand Slam champion explained that he “spoke to my team about it before the game and said to expect it, to prepare for it if things don’t go as they should”. He also claimed that Tsitsipas may have exaggerated the extent of his foot injury because he “was doing fine, moving well, I thought” for the remainder of the game.

It comes after Alexander Zverev filed a similar complaint at the Western and Southern Open, where he faced Tsitsipas in the semifinals and won in three sets.

Tsitsipas returned to the locker room with his gear bag, leading Zverev to suggest his opponent may have received some mid-game training. He also complained to the chair umpire that “it was the same in Paris and it will be the same in all the other tournaments he plays”.

Murray stopped short claim that Tsitsipas violated rules prohibiting players from being coached in the middle of matches. Still, the question clearly angered him to a noticeable degree.

Now that will be Adrian Mannarino’s problem to sort out. Mannarino and Tsitsipas are expected to play in the second round on Wednesday.