Andy Murray has respect for ‘good guy’ Stefanos Tsitsipas as they prepare to meet at Wimbledon… two years on from accusing Greek of taking ‘twice as long to go the bathroom as it takes Jeff Bezos to fly into space’ in toilet break row
- Andy Murray will take on Greek ace Stefanos Tsitsipas next up at Wimbledon
- Murray and Tsitipas famously clashed over toilet breaks at the 2021 US Open
- That is water under the bridge now with the Scot saying he respects a ‘good guy’
Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Wednesday that Centre Court is practically Andy Murray’s living room but thankfully for the Scot, his Greek opponent’s visits to the bathroom will be limited today.
Awaiting Murray in Wimbledon’s second round is a player with whom he has a history, the 36-year-old having declared after his defeat at the 2021 US Open: ‘Fact of the day – it takes Stefanos Tsitsipas twice as long to go the bathroom as it takes Jeff Bezos to fly into space.’
It was before their fifth set at the appropriately-named Flushing Meadows in New York that Murray accused Tsitsipas of ‘cheating’, saying he purposefully took ’20 minutes’ to disrupt his play.
The ATP have since called time on bathroom breaks, limiting players to one per match and insisting they last no longer than three minutes in a bid to stop such tactics.
That is welcome news to Murray, who insists his beef with the mischievous Tsitsipas is in the past.
Andy Murray insists his beef with Stefanos Tsitipas is reserved for history and is now no issue
Two years ago the Scot was furious at how long Tsitsipas was taking over bathroom breaks
‘Stefanos is a top player,’ Murray said. ‘He has been in the top 10 of the world for a while now.
‘He has been to the latter stages of multiple Slams. A classy tennis player. It is definitely a step up.
‘I will need to be on my game to beat him. I got to spend quite a bit of time with him at the Laver Cup.’
That was in 2022, a year after they clashed at the US Open.
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‘I didn’t want to do the press conference (in New York),’ Murray added. ‘I had spoken to the referee beforehand. I said to him I didn’t want to do it. Because I knew exactly how it was going to go.
‘I like him. I think he’s a good guy. I was really angry after that match and I was really disappointed with what happened.
‘My feeling on the toilet break rules… there wasn’t really any rule at the time. And it was getting abused a little bit.’
At 7.30pm on Wednesday night, Murray did not know who he would be facing next as Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem were locked at 5-5 in the fifth set of an invigorating marathon match.
What Murray did know was that, whoever won, Thursday’s match would be placed last on the schedule to give his opponent time to recover.
Tstisipas has sent up a Centre Court clash with Murray after a thrilling win over Dominic Thiem
Tsitsipas-Thiem turned into one of this tournament’s most thrilling encounters and the Wimbledon fifth seed triumphed 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6.
Murray on Centre Court is his reward and that is where the Scot says he feels at home: ‘You have the Royal Box, Roger Federer is sitting there. It is a very different experience and something that I have been lucky enough to play, I don’t know how many matches, probably at least 50-odd,’ he said.
‘There is one other player in the draw who has got that experience and that is Novak Djokovic. So, I need to use that as much as I can to my advantage and will certainly have that over all of the opponents I face here, except for Novak.’
Tsitsipas is a highly talented player who has reached the finals of the French Open and Australian Open and said on Wednesday night: ‘I’m not expecting anyone supporting me when I play Andy! And this isn’t my first rodeo!
‘A few years ago when I was kid, I remember witnessing his first Wimbledon title. Thinking about it now gives me goosebumps because I felt what he went through during that final. It was so difficult for him to close out that last game. Every time I re-watch that moment, I just feel shivers all over body.
‘He is someone that has done so much for the sport. I will go in with lots of respect.
‘Hopefully I can bring out my best game. He’s a tough competitor, he won’t give up. That Centre Court over there is almost like his living room.’
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Murray famously lashed out at Tsitsipas in the 2021 US Open – but he does not hold grudges
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