Google News Mouratoglou defends Stefanos Tsitsipas from Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev criticism
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 4744
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou has defended Stefanos Tsitsipas following the criticism from Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev. Tsitsipas took a seven-minute long bathroom break following the end of the fourth set against Andy Murray and the Briton cooled off and absolutely unloaded on the Greek after the match.
Murray said Tsitsipas knew exactly what he was doing and said he lost his respect for him. Tsitsipas also went on a lengthy bathroom break two weeks against during his Cincinnati Masters clash against Zverev and the German accuser the Greek of leaving the court with his phone and texting his father, who works as his coach.
"Tsitsipas is everything but a cheater. I can't hear stuff like that. (...) there was people saying stupid things about him texting his father. His phone was at the hotel," Mouratoglou said, per Jose Morgado.
Murray and Zverev unloaded on Tsitsipas
"But, yeah, it can't be coincidence that it's happening at those moments.
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," Murray claimed. "Yeah, it's just disappointing because I thought 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 two breaks. "I rate him a lot. I think he is a brilliant player. I think he is great for the game. But I have zero time for that stuff all, and I lost respect for him." Zverev suggested that bathroom is a "magical place" for Tsitsipas.
"I'm like either it's a very magical place he goes to or there is communication there. But I also don't want to disrespect him. He is a great player. He is No. 3 in the world for a reason. He's winning tournaments and playing incredible tennis this year for a reason, so it's not only that," Zverev said.
"But I do believe, and Andy said it, as well, there is some level of respect that everybody needs to have between players. I feel like, yeah, sometimes -- or he might just go to the toilet. We don't know that. That's also possible. But it just happens too often, I would say."