Murray Loses Respect For Tsitsipas In US Open Loss; Djokovic Begins Tues. Night

The story of Day 1 of the US Open men’s draw was Andy Murray reaction after losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in a tight 5-set battle 2-6, 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In their first meet, it was Murray jumping out early on the Greek, thumping ground strokes and serve, and moving almost like he did when he won the US Open in 2012.

Tsitsipas scraped back and then with Murray holding two set points at 6-4 in the breaker, the 23-year-old came up with the goods, then left the court after leveling.

After nearly nine minutes, Tsitsipas returned to action (Murray also left the court), Murray grabbed a quick break and held on but Tsitsipas against got the momentum back to force a decider.

Before the fifth, Tsitsipas again took another 8+ minute break, forcing the chair ump to call a time violation.

Tsitsipas, though, was unfazed and broke and eventually took the match in 4 hours, 49 minutes. Murray gave a quick handshake and was voicing his displeasure over his opponent’s tactics.

While Murray played some of his best tennis, and looked extremely good against a top flight player, he didn’t hold back in his criticism of Tsitsipas.

“It’s not so much leaving the court,” Murray said. “It’s the amount of time. I spoke to my team before the match about it and said to expect that, prepare for it if things were not going his way. So I was trying to do that.

“But the issue is that you cannot stop the way that that affects you physically. When you’re playing a brutal match like that, you know, stopping for seven, eight minutes, you do cool down.

“I don’t believe it 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.

“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,” he added. “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.”

And he didn’t stop there.

“Right now sitting here I feel like it’s nonsense and they need to make a change because it’s not good for the sport, it’s not good for TV, it’s not good for fans,” he went on.

“I’m sitting in here after a match like that against one of the best players in the world, and rather than talking about how fantastic he is, how good he is for the game, how great it was for me that I was able to put on a performance like that after everything that’s gone on the last four years, but I’m sitting in here talking about bathroom breaks and medical timeouts and delays in matches. That’s rubbish. I don’t think that that’s right.

“I would have said the same thing if I’d won, I promise. It was nonsense, and he knows it.”

Tsitsipas, who has now defeated all of the Big 4, doesn’t feel he did anything wrong.

“If there’s something that he has to tell me, we should speak the two of us to kind of understand what went wrong,” Tsitsipas said.

“I don’t think I broke any rules. 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. I have nothing against him. Absolutely nothing.”

That’s now two straight matches Tsitsipas has been called out for suspect tactics.

Andrey Rublev put an end to Ivo Karolovic’s career easing past the big man in straight sets. He wasn’t the only big guy to go down as John Isner was stunned in straight sets by 20-year-old Brandon Nakashima.

Kevin Anderson did manage to get through Jiri Vesely in a final set breaker. Anderson, the 2017 finalist, slammed 49 aces in the win.

In the evening, after a a bunch of tight day matches, under the lights it was blow outs.

Daniil Medvedev routed an ailing Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 on Ashe. And on Armstrong, Roberto Bautista Agut had just as easy of a time breezing past a lackluster Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.

Grigor Dimitrov, Frances Tiafoe, Christian Ruud and US Open debutant Carlos Alcaraz were al winners.

Tomorrow, Novak Djokovic is back in New York looking to make history. He’ll take in the rising 18-year-old Holger Rune who has never played a Grand Slam match before.

Streaking gold medalist Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov are also on court.

TUESDAY US OPEN SCHEDULE
Alexander Zverev (GER) [4] vs. Sam Querrey (USA)
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) [1] vs. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Night Session – 7:00 PM Start
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] vs. Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (DEN) (Q)
Viktorija Golubic (SUI) vs. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) [6]

Louis Armstrong Stadium, Day Session – 11:00 AM Start
Karolina Pliskova (CZE) [4] vs. Catherine McNally (USA) (WC)
Belinda Bencic (SUI) [11] vs. Arantxa Rus (NED)
Federico Delbonis (ARG) vs. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) [7]

Louis Armstrong Stadium, Night Session – 7:00 PM Start
Alison Riske (USA) vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) [14]
Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Alex de Minaur (AUS) [14]