Stefanos Tsitsipas had zero regrets about unloading at Fergus Murphy as he was firm in his belief that the chair umpire "did not make a very smart decision" when he hit him with a time violation in a game that likely changed the momentum and rhythm of the match completely.
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In the Shanghai Masters round-of-16, the Greek was going toe-to-toe with Daniil Medvedev in an extremely tight battle. After losing the first set via a tie-break, the world No. 12 managed to bounce back at the start of the second set with an early break.
But when serving at 2-1 and with the Russian having a 15/30 lead on Tsitsipas' serve, the No. 10 seed was slapped with a time violation because Murphy felt he was too slow and let the shot clock expire. To say the least, the 26-year-old wasn't happy with the call.
Why are you doing this to me man? Im the best about this on tour, the most consistent player about this on tour," Tsitsipas told the chair umpire. But Murphy had an explanation, saying he just followed the rules and made the call after the clock hit the zero mark: The clock starts automatically, just listen. It might help if you listen. The clock starts automatically. I have no control over that.
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But it didn't end there as the former world No. 3 started claiming that the umpires started having something against him. The chair umpire from his Shanghai match denied that was the case.
You have no clue about tennis it seems like," Tsitsipas said just before stating that Murphy probably never played the game - which the umpire himself denied.
Definitely you have no cardio. You probably serve and volley all the time. Tennis is a physical sport. We need time over there. Show some compassion. We arent throwing darts out here," the Greek said.
After losing the match 6-7 (3) 3-6, the 2021 French Open runner-up had a blunt message for the umpire: "I hope you get fired. I really wish it."
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Tsitsipas: It wasn't a smart decision, he made drama and disrupted me
Moments after their argument, the world No. 12 got broken back and he wasn't the same from that moment onward as Medvedev went on to routinely complete a two-set win.
"The umpire definitely wasn't very smart of the decision he took today during the match. Very disappointing to see that an umpire had to come to a decision like that during such, I would say a good match, because, I felt like like both of us were giving it out all on the court, and it felt like we were able to produce a good match from that point onwards. The umpire decided to join us in that good match and make it a drama for no reason. So it is definitely disappointing, because I felt like I was at a good state there, and, I felt like they took away something from me for, no reason. Absolutely no reason," Tsitsipas said afterward.
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Tsitsipas: I wouldn't complain if Medvedev did the same
Further addressing the incident, the 26-year-old acknowledged that the shot clock probably came down to zero. But considering the circumstances and the match they were playing, he felt that the umpire "should have used common sense" and allowed him that additional second or two.
"I probably would have been two seconds late of what the shot clock is. From what I saw, it happened yesterday in one of the matches as well. In my my opinion, the empire should use a little bit of common sense in this type of situation and not overcomplicate things. I would completely understand if it would have happened to my opponent, for two or three seconds. It's absolutely normal, especially when we were rallying and playing so long and making it so physical. You need a bit of rest in between points to try to recover and recuperate. So, very unnecessary from the referee, and it probably also shows how by the book is," Tsitsipas added.
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After getting broken back in the fourth game of the second set, the Greek managed to hold to his serve in the sixth game and tie the second set to three games apiece. But he didn't manage to do the same two games later as Medvedev opened a 5-3 lead before closing out the match on his serve in the ninth game.
So far during the Asian swing, the former world No. 3 picked up a first-round loss in Tokyo and made the Shanghai round-of-16 - which only continues his inconsistent season.
It remains to be seen if Tsitsipas can change something before the season ends.
