Four years ago at the US Open, Tsitsipas was a top 100 player and could only participate in the US Open qualifiers, while Murray was the no. 2 seed in the tournament and the second in the world. The 2017 US Open is definitely an event that impressed both of them. On that occasion, the day before the start of the game, Murray suddenly announced his retirement due to a hip injury, causing an uproar, and since then, Murray, who is plagued by injuries, has begun to fall from the altar. That year, lucky Tsitsipas got the opportunity to train with Murray, and the encounter at the US Open Center Court excited the 19-year-old Greek teenager.
2017 US Open Tsitsipas and Murray
Four years later, at the U.S. Open, Murray became a top 100 player, relying on a wild card to participate in the MAIN U.S. Open, while Tsitsipas has grown to the no. 3 seed in the tournament and the third in the world. We have to sigh 4 years of Hedong, 4 years of Hexi. This time, they are going to meet again on center court, but this time they are opponents standing on the net, and it is also the first time in their careers that the two have met. The ending was predicted before the game, no more Murray than the popular Tsitsipas, but the process was unexpected.
Murray and Tsitsipas met before the start of the US Open
In the first set, Murray defended the honor of a 3-time Grand Slam champion, showed the essence of a former tournament champion, the performance was surprising, actually broke the No. 3 seed twice, won the first set 6-2, and then Tsitsipas applied to go to the bathroom to change clothes, fortunately only with a small bag.
Murray
Murray slipped during the race
In the second set, Murray slipped on the feet of the key points many times, grabbed a seven-6-4 lead, wasted 2 sets, 7-7 draws, and then double mistakenly sent the set, and finally lost the second set;
During the break, Murray dried his shoes with the mobile air conditioner on the spot, and after winning the third set 6-3, Murray roared to cheer himself up; in the 4th set, Tsitsipas led 5-0, and then lost three consecutive sets, asking for a medical timeout in the middle, and finally won the set.
During the break, Tsitsipas paused another washroom and went for 7 minutes, and Murray complained to the referee: "He cheated!" After returning, Tsitsipas changed the racket and rubbed it for another minute, and after a long wait, the distraught Murray, an inattentive loss of his own serve, also lost the victory, and finally Tsitsipas 2-6/ 7-6 (7) / 3-6 / 6-3 / 6-4 Murray.
2021 US Open first round Murray vs Tsitsipas
After the game, it can be seen that Murray gave the opponent a perfunctory handshake, refused any eye contact, refused to speak, and was a very discordant picture. Although he lost the game, Fighter Murray played his best self since his comeback, and when he left, he won a standing ovation from the audience.
After the game, Murray said he was mentally prepared for Tsitsipas's approach, saying: "But the point is that no matter how well prepared, it will inevitably have an impact on the body. In a fierce game, several times suddenly paused for 7 or 8 minutes, causing the whole person to cool down. It's been a couple of times, even before my serve. He applied for a medical timeout after I won the third set; then he ran to change the racket when I was 30-0 ahead. I don't think it's all a coincidence, I don't think he's really having a problem, because his movement is completely fine. I have a very high opinion of him, I think he is a very good player, but he has lost all my respect. ”
Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas responded: "As long as I follow the rules, then the rest is fine." I have no opinion on him, absolutely not. "Medical suspension and toilet suspension are within the rules, but sometimes, the extent to which the rules are used is inseparable from the word reasonable." Wandering on the edge of reason is often easy to lose the audience's heart.
A total of 23 Grand Slam champions practiced together
With Cilic retiring from injury in the decider and Murray losing in five sets, the first day of the US Open was only left, and djokovic was already left with only a former tournament champion and a Grand Slam champion left in the men's singles table!