Andy Murray at centre of handshake storm after loss at Australian Open
The three-time grand slam champion didn't appear to be on very good terms with Roberto Bautista Agut.
There doesn't appear to be any love lost between Andy Murray and Roberto Bautista Agut after the pair shared a very frosty handshake at the Australian Open on Saturday night. Bautista Agut ended Murray's run at Melbourne Park, prevailing 6-1 6-7 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 in another tense battle.
Fans couldn't help but notice the ice-cold exchange Murray and Bautista Agut shared at the net after the final point. Murray could be seen shooting daggers at Bautista Agut as his Spanish opponent roared with delight after clinching the victory.
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Their handshake was over quick as a flash as they barely locked eyes with one another, with neither player cracking a smile. It remains to be seen what went down to spark the frosty handshake, however Bautista Agut hinted in his post-match press conference that he wasn't impressed by the way Murray was using the crowd to his advantage.
The overwhelming support was with Murray on Saturday night as the Margaret Court Arena crowd desperately willed the three-time grand slam champion for another epic comeback. “He understands the game very well and he knows how to play with a crowd, how to play with the nerves of the opponent,” Bautista Agut said. "Today was a tough match. I think I did a great job.”
Some fans weren't impressed by how the players shook hands, with many labelling it 'poor sportsmanship' and 'disrespectful'. However fans were left divided as to who was in the wrong.
Wow! That handshake at the net 😮🤣
Murray & Bautista Agut clearly dislike each other lol#AusOpen— Olivia 🦋 (@heardboutpluto) January 21, 2023
What a run from Murray. What a cold handshake. Agut just mad nobody likes him. Don’t worry he’ll be going home in a few days. 👋🏽 https://t.co/s9x4rVkVUm
— Moses Das (@mosesdas) January 21, 2023
What's with the cold af handshake from RBA?
Disrespectful to Andy Murray imo.— Manar 𓂀 (@Manora23) January 21, 2023
Would have been sporting of @BautistaAgut if he had given @andy_murray more than his perfunctory handshake at the end given the context and symmetry of the occasion. Cold fish.
— Kate MacKenzie (@mumeasy) January 21, 2023
Poor sportsmanship at the end, Robert is a total gentleman and the handshake was filled with resentment and jealousy. Disappointing but not surprising
— Hubert Jackson (@HubertJ63223990) January 21, 2023
Andy Murray a sore loser. Terrible handshake
— ESP (@miralles_41) January 21, 2023
Andy Murray reveals brutal toll of Kokkinakis win
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Murray revealed the brutal toll his 4am win over Thanasi Kokkinakis took on his body. Murray beat Kokkinakis in a five-set blockbuster in the second round that went for five hours and 45 minutes and finished at 4.05am on Friday.
“I slept from 6 until 9 the morning I played the match with Kokkinakis, which obviously isn’t enough. Then I had to come in here,” the 35-year-old said. “I had about seven or eight blisters that I had to have drained and then he put this liquid in to dry it. I had to come in in the morning to give that time to settle.
“Then I went back to the hotel, slept for a few hours, and then hit for, like, 15 minutes yesterday. Yeah, just the ice baths, saw my physio.
“Yeah, actually, I mean, my feet didn’t feel great. My legs were actually okay. They weren’t too bad. But I was struggling with my lower back. That was affecting my serve. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with today.
“I gave everything that I had the last three matches – I’m very proud of that," the 35-year-old said. “But I’m also disappointed because I put loads of work into the beginning of this year and was playing well enough to have a really good run, have a deep run.”
Murray's run to the third round was all the more remarkable given the fact he appeared on the verge of retirement at the Australian Open in 2017. He tweeted on Sunday morning: "2 days ago I randomly bumped into the doctor who in 2017 told me 'the good news is the problem you have in your hip can be fixed but you won’t be able to play professional sport again.' I think we dispelled that myth the last 5 days."
2 days ago I randomly bumped into the doctor who in 2017 told me “the good news is the problem you have in your hip can be fixed but you won’t be able to play professional sport again.” I think we dispelled that myth the last 5 days.😉Goodnight ❤️
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) January 21, 2023
For now, the Scottish star isn't thinking about retirement. “You never know exactly when the end is going to be. I would like to go out playing tennis like this, where I’m competing with the best players in the world in the biggest events and doing myself justice,” he said.
“I felt good about the way that I was playing. It’s more enjoyable for me when I’m playing like that, when I’m coming into a major event and really believing that I can do some damage."
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