Stefanos Tsitsipas’s Shanghai Masters campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday, but not without a heated exchange with chair umpire Fergus Murphy. The incident unfolded during the fourth game of the second set, when Tsitsipas received a time violation warning.
Tsitsipas, visibly frustrated, approached Murphy and questioned his decision. “Why are you doing this to me, man?” he asked. “Why are you guys against me so much? The last few months have been terrible. I don’t understand what’s gotten into you.”
Murphy calmly explained that the clock begins automatically, but Tsitsipas continued to argue, claiming that he hadn’t seen his opponents receive the same treatment. Murphy countered that Tsitsipas needed to “keep watching the clock” and “keep up.”
The exchange escalated when Tsitsipas double-faulted and was broken on the next point. He refused to play until a supervisor came to the court, accusing Murphy of taking away his double fault and having “no clue about tennis.”
Murphy remained composed, responding that he had played tennis and was simply enforcing the rules. Tsitsipas then made a peculiar comment about Murphy’s cardio, suggesting that he only served and volleyed.
The incident echoed similar outbursts from Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev in recent days, highlighting the growing tension between players and umpires. However, despite the on-court drama, Tsitsipas and his opponent Daniil Medvedev shared a warm handshake and embrace after the match.
Tsitsipas acknowledged that his relationship with Medvedev had improved over time, despite their past conflicts. “I consider him someone that I respect on the tour, much more than I did before,” he said. “We’ve had some heated things on the court in the past, but I think those things have resolved themselves over time.”
