US Open: “Damn joke” – Tsitsipas wins after an extensive toilet visit

AAt the end of this rousing match, Andy Murray left the pitch shaking his head. Whether angry or disappointed, it should have been a mixture of both. The old star of the tour had once again delivered one of those tennis battles at the US Open, for which he is famous, for which the audience loves him.

He had forced the co-favorite Stefanos Tsitsipas into the fifth set at the US Open. After almost five hours, however, the 23-year-old Greek defeated the 34-year-old Scot with 2: 6, 7: 6 (9: 7), 3: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 4. Not always with very fine means, which annoyed Murray. Because after his 2-2 set compensation, Tsitsipas said goodbye to the court for the time being. He took a toilet break for eight minutes, which earned him a warning from the referee after visiting the toilet.

Because the suspicion is obvious that he wanted to take Murray’s good run the rhythm. “It has never taken me so long to go to the bathroom. It’s a bloody joke, “said Murray.

With Tsitsipas, however, this slowly becomes a pattern so that you can pull your head out of the loop with a trick in tricky situations. He was now conspicuous, at least as a repeat offender. At the preparatory tournament for the US Open in Cincinnati, he did the same.

“Not bad for a guy with a metal hip”

In the semifinals against Alexander Zverev, he said goodbye last week after the first sentence in the locker room and was not seen on the pitch for a long time. He took nine minutes for the toilet break, much to the displeasure of Zverev, who complained to the referee. Zverev won in the end, even emerged as the tournament winner, but did not want to leave Tsitsipa’s mind games uncommented. I’m always someone, I like to win with tennis and lose with tennis. Some players don’t, ”he said.

Tsitsipas has never made it past the third round at the US Open, but is placed on three after favorite Novak Djokovic from Serbia and Russian Daniil Medvedev – Zverev follows on four. It is almost miraculous and testifies to Murray’s irrepressible will that he could bring him to the brink of defeat.

The old master has already won three Grand Slams and is a former number one in the world. But at the beginning of 2019 he had already announced his resignation and had an artificial hip joint inserted. But after a half-year break he came back and has been trying to build on old times ever since. At the end of 2019, however, Murray had to take another break, his body, joints and muscles were causing him problems and so did not return to the tour until August 2020.

When he had to say goodbye after a great fight against the current number three in the world rankings, there was great applause for him from the spectators in New York. On the other hand, there was great homage for his deed, especially in his homeland.

“In the city that never sleeps, the man who never gives up reminded New Yorkers last night why he was once their champion. It was an epic fight, “commented the Daily Mail. The Sun added that it was a “brilliant and glorious reminder never to write off this remarkable athlete who simply refuses to end his remarkable career. Murray turned back the years in the Big Apple. Not bad for a guy with a metal hip ”.

Kerber struggled in the second round of the US Open

Better, because more successful, fared the German tennis pros at the US Open, who got off to a perfect start. Led by fellow favorite Angelique Kerber, a German quintet made it into the second round at the last Grand Slam tournament of the season on Monday. “It was a German day on the first day of the US Open,” said tennis legend Boris Becker as an expert on the TV broadcaster Eurosport.

Kerber was on the verge of collapse. The three-time Grand Slam tournament winner Dajana Jastremska from Ukraine struggled after losing the first set in 2:25 hours with 3: 6, 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 3). “It was a roller coaster ride,” said Kerber after the show of strength. In large parts of the game, Jastremska “just put them under so much pressure that I couldn’t play my game”. But despite being behind in the third set, she fought her way back and finally decided the tiebreaker with nervousness.

The 33-year-old is now facing another Ukrainian in Anhelina Kalinina. At the French Open, Kerber had clearly lost in two sets against the 24-year-old. “I definitely still have an account to be settled,” said the German tournament hope.

Andrea Petkovic had significantly less trouble than Kerber. The 33-year-old Darmstadt woman prevailed against Irina-Camelia Begu from Romania with 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 3). “I think I played a very solid first set,” said Petkovic after the game. Petkovic now meets ex-Wimbledon winner Garbiñe Muguruza from Spain. Due to the recent successes, the Hessian is really enjoying tennis again. “As long as I still have the fire, you still have a little on my cheek,” said Petkovic.

In the men’s category, a German trio made it into round two. Experienced Philipp Kohlschreiber benefited from Marin Cilic’s injury-related task at 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 7 (3: 7), 6: 2, 6: 1, 2: 0. The Croatian won the US Open in 2014 and was seeded at number 30 this year.

“Lucky for me, bad luck for him,” said Kohlschreiber, commenting on his progress and also referred to the humid temperatures that apparently made his opponent to create. Nevertheless, the Augsburg resident, who lives in Kitzbühel, was satisfied with his appearance. “It was a deserved victory,” said Kohlschreiber. “Now I have to pull out the positive things and take them to the next round.” Kohlschreiber now meets the Spaniard Pablo Andujar.

Qualifier Peter Gojowczyk won against number 23 seeded French Ugo Humbert 1: 6, 6: 1, 6: 2, 5: 7, 6: 4 and is now playing against the Serbian Dusan Lajovic. Dominik Koepfer also had to go over five sets. The Davis Cup professional beat the French Quentin Halys 6: 4, 3: 6, 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 4 and now faces Medvedev.

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