Stefanos Tsitsipas launched bizarre rant at chair umpire Fergus Murphy after more time violation Shanghai Masters drama; Watch all ATP and WTA action on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+ which is integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Wednesday 9 October 2024 17:28, UK
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas launched an unbelievable rant at tennis umpire Fergus Murphy at the Shanghai Masters, a day after the USA's Frances Tiafoe produced an expletive-laden tirade at the same event.
Tsitsipas was facing fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev for a place in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 event, ultimately losing out 7-6 (3) 6-3.
Having been given a time violation and lost a serve to his opponent - just as Tiafoe did in defeat vs Roman Safiullin on Tuesday by Ecuadorian chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote - Tsitsipas engaged in a bizarre argument with Irish umpire Murphy, refusing to play in the next game for a prolonged period.
"You have never played tennis in your life. You have no clue about tennis, it seems like," Tsitsipas said. "Definitely you've had no career. You probably played serve-and-volley every single time.
"Anyways, tennis is a physical sport and we need some time over there. You have to show some compassion because you aren't showing any.
"It's a physical sport. We are not throwing darts out here, okay?
"If it's going to be unfair, I need to talk to the supervisor. You seem like you have no idea what you're doing.
"If you're going to gift a game like this to my opponent, I need to speak to the supervisor."
Murphy replied: "We have the clocks. The shot clock starts automatically, I'm in charge of the shot clock.
"We can't stop for this. I'm following the rules."
Carlos Alcaraz avenged his Cincinnati defeat to Gael Monfils with a straight-sets success over the veteran to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
Monfils got the better of Wimbledon champion Alcaraz at the Cincinnati Masters in August and that loss was followed by a shock early US Open exit for the world No 2 in the second round.
Alcaraz returned to ATP Tour action last month with a triumphant China Open campaign and has now extended his winning run to eight matches with a 6-4 7-5 victory over the Frenchman.
Next up for Alcaraz will be a showdown with Tomas Machac, who outlasted Tommy Paul in three sets.
Jannik Sinner is on course to face third seed Alcaraz in the last four after he beat Ben Shelton 6-4 7-6 (1), but has old foe Medvedev in the last eight.
Novak Djokovic is on the other side of the draw and will take on Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals after the 23-time Grand Slam champion eased past Roman Safiullin and continues his bid for a 100th ATP career title.
Experienced Belgian David Goffin will play Taylor Fritz in the other quarter-final after he stunned Alexander Zverev 6-4 7-5.
Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka maintained her undefeated record at the Wuhan Open, opening her campaign with a 6-4 6-4 win over 37th-ranked Katerina Siniakova in a second-round match on Wednesday.
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka, who received a bye in the first round with the other top eight seeds, broke her Czech opponent twice in each set - as well as surrendering one of her own service games - as she clinched her latest win in 1 hour and 34 minutes of play.
In the third round, the 26-year-old Belarussian will play Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, who ended Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic's tournament with 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory.
There were six Americans in second round matches on Wednesday.
China Open champion Coco Gauff routed Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova 6-1 6-2 in 75 minutes, while Hailey Baptiste upset 10th-ranked Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 7-5 for her first win over a Top-10 player.
Magdalena Frech beat eighth-ranked Emma Navarro 6-4 3-6 6-3 in just over two hours, and No11-ranked Daria Kasatkina overcame a mid-match stumble to defeat American Bernarda Pera 6-4 1-6 6-1.
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