Andy Murray says he ‘lost respect’ for Stefanos Tsitsipas as he accused him of ‘cheating’ at US Open

It was a display befitting of the Andy Murray of old despite falling short against Stefano Tsitsipas in the first round of the US Open.

When pitted against the world number three in the draw, it only accelerated talk of the Scotsman’s potential retirement. Wimbledon had ended with an admirable but agonising sight of him robotically hurling his aching body around Centre Court. His singles campaign at Tokyo 2020 was curtailed by a thigh strain.

Here, it ends with a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss but one which more than suggested the former world number one is capable, at the very least, of conjuring more respectable performances than the ones which left him bitterly considering his obvious physical limitations after four years of injuries.

Those lucky enough to be inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium for the five-hour battle also witnessed a peculiarly long stoppage when Tsitsipas took a toilet break before the fifth set, causing an eight minute delay.

Both players had been struggling with the humidity, with the 2012 champion complaining his shoes were soaked with sweat and he did not have another pair to change into.

Murray could later be heard shouting “he’s cheating!” as he complained to the umpire about Tsitsipas’ disappearing act and used his post-match press conference to berate the Greek for the length of time he had been off the court.

“It’s not so much leaving the court. It’s the amount of time,” said Murray. “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.

"It has never once taken me that long to go to the toilet, ever!" #andymurraypic.twitter.com/JiJJoUaipL

— Tennis GIFs ???????? (@tennis_gifs) August 31, 2021

“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.

“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.

“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.

“That’s what I feel. But if everyone else feels like that’s totally cool and there’s no issue with it, then maybe I’m the one being unreasonable.

“But I think it’s nonsense. And he knows it, as well.”