Murray vs Verdasco: Andy Murray has accused Fernando Verdasco of breaking the rules by talking to his coach. Verdasco has refuted his claims.
Andy Murray faced defeat in the second round of the US Open on day 3 at Arthur Ashe court. Spanish tennis player Fernando Verdasco overcame the British in over three matches 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-4 to proceed to the third round.
However, a controversy erupted between the third and fourth round during the match, when the players were given a 10-minute break due to ‘extreme heat’.
After the break, Andy Murray approached the chair umpire and told him that Fernando Verdasco talked to his coach in the break, which is against the rules of the game. “He’s sitting there with his coach and his doubles partner,” said Murray. “I had to tell them because nobody knows the f****** rules,” he said.
Murray further revealed the details about what happened during the break.
Also read: US Open – Who to look out for
“When I came out of the shower, his coach and his — I don’t know if he’s playing doubles with him, but one of the Spanish doubles players was in there chatting to him, and you’re not allowed to speak to your coach. I went and told the supervisor.
“I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ I mean there are’s clear rules here and you’re allowing this to take place. I don’t get it.
“Then he ran through, Oh, you’re not allowed to speak.
“I checked the rules beforehand, and I spoke to my team. We were clear you don’t speak to your coaches whatever.
After the match, Fernando Verdasco was questioned about Andy Murray’s claims. The Spanish player, however, shunned his remarks, saying that he didn’t say a word to his coach.
“I know the rule exactly. I didn’t speak anything to any member of my team.
“I know you can’t talk with your team or use the phone or use anything. Is like a break on the court, but just on the locker. I saw my coach in the locker room, but I didn’t even talk one word with him.
“I think he went to the toilet. I obviously cannot say, Don’t go to the toilet. But actually we didn’t even spoke one word.
“I was in the ice bath with [Marcos] Baghdatis and his coach. The guy from the court with the time behind me just because I was asking him, Please tell me the time so I don’t get late.
“Andy didn’t take an ice bath, because I told Marcos — I was first. I didn’t even know Andy was coming. I told Marcos when I saw Andy, Maybe he’s coming. Andy said, No, I’m not taking ice bath. I said, Marcos, you can stay.
“I went in, I saw my coach, we didn’t talk one word. I just dress up quickly and went back to the court. Obviously, if you say or Andy say that, I don’t want to say that he lie, but I didn’t talk one word with my coach or any one member of my team. I know exactly the rule and I don’t want to be the one breaking it.
“But I don’t know why Andy said that. Maybe because he saw my coach, he thought that I was speaking with him. Like I said, he went to the toilet, not to talk to me,” said Verdasco.
