Andy Murray slams 'lying' opponent amid 'cheating' row

Andy Murray has taken a swipe at Fernando Verdasco, accusing him of lying about receiving mid-match coaching in the locker room.

Murray’s return to the US Open lasted just two rounds as the 2012 champion bowed out with a controversial 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-4 defeat to the No.31 seed.

Murray hit out at tournament officials for failing to prevent Verdasco talking to his coach during the 10-minute heat break at the end of the third set, something that was only stopped after the Scot alerted the supervisor.

As you can see above, he fumed at the chair umpire when he got back on court.

“It shouldn’t be for the player that’s competing against him to have to go to the supervisor,” he raged.

“If I hadn’t said anything, they would have been chatting about the match, giving tactics and stuff.

“I shouldn’t be in that position in the middle of a match at a slam having to make sure they’re doing their job.

“Nobody knows the f***ing rules.”

Fans were left furious with Verdasco, and a number went as far as to accuse him of cheating.

Murray then elaborated about what he’d seen in his post-match press conference.

“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,” the Brit said.

“I said, ‘What are you guys doing? I mean, there’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. They obviously weren’t in there for long, but you’ve got to do better than that.

“This is one of the biggest events in the world. If you have rules like that, you need to stick with them because one player getting to speak to the coach and the other not is not fair.”

However Verdasco dismissed Murray’s claim, saying he was aware of the rules and he never spoke to his coach.

“I know the rule exactly. I know you can’t talk with your team or use the phone or use anything. It’s like a break on the court, but just in the locker room,” he said.

“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 speak one word.

ALL CLASS: Kyrgios’s brilliant gesture for shattered US Open rival

PRETTY IN BLUE: Serena’s latest outfit sends fans into a frenzy

“I went in, I saw my coach, we didn’t talk one word. I just dressed up quickly and went back to the court.

“Obviously if you say or Andy say that, I don’t want to say that he lied, 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.”

While Verdasco didn’t want to call Murray a liar, the Brit didn’t seem to hold back from doing so.

Taking to social media after hearing Verdasco’s denial, Murray wrote.

“I’m off to get a health check as apparently I’ve started imagining things #liarliarpantsonfire”, he wrote on Instagram

Verdasco will face a second-straight past champion at Flushing Meadows when he meets third-seeded Juan Martin del Potro in the third round.

Murray missed last year’s tournament because of a hip injury and didn’t consider himself a contender this year because of his lack of preparation.

with agencies