'Sad scenes': Fans divided after 'unprofessional' dig sparks debate
A frosty net exchange and some uncomfortable scenes sparked controversy at the US Open following the match between Barbora Krejcikova and Garbine Muguruza.
Krejcikova survived a Muguruza fight back and a late injury issue to claim a 6-3, 7-6 win and move into the quarter-finals of the US Open.
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However, the match was marred in the final stages when Muguruza became infuriated at the timing of Krejcikova's Medical Time Out and delays.
After coming back from a set down and 0-4, Muguruza was leading 6-5 in the decider before a visibly struggling Krejcikova left the court.
Muguruza became increasingly frustrated when Krejcikova was taking her time between points.
Following her break, Krejcikova returned and was near flawless and won the match in the tiebreak.
This infuriated Muguruza and she let Krejcikova know her feelings during a cold handshake.
"I'm sorry," Krejcikova said at the net.
"So unprofessional," Muguruza replied.
Following the win, Krejcikova skipped the press conference as she was still struggling and was accompanied off court.
"At the end I was really struggling and I feel really bad right now," said Krejcikova, who skipped her post-match news conference but provided comments through the WTA.
"I don't really know what happened but I couldn't breathe. I started to feel dizzy and the whole world was shaking. It never happened to me before."
Fans were left divided over the drama.
Some thought Krejcikova used her medical time out at the wrong time.
Others felt while Muguruza had a right to feel aggrieved, but showed poor sportsmanship after losing.
Krejcikova, still getting treatment, will not be doing press tonight. #USOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 6, 2021
Theatrics after running flawlessly because audience booing at such unprofessional display. Suppose to play at servers pace but kept going for towel. All to throw off Muguruza who clearly had the momentum.
— hstoor (@hstoorg) September 6, 2021
But Krejcikova clearly struggling physically post handshake. Looks dazed. Skips on-court interview and is helped to walk off court, very slowly, by medical officials. Will update when we know more
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 6, 2021
Can understand #Muguruza's reaction and her "so unprofessional" retort to #Krejcikova's apology. But then the Czech was unable to do her on-court interview and had to be helped off the court by medical officials. Muguruza did not want to comment on it during her presser. #USOpen https://t.co/DpzIc3YoJe
— Sudipto Ganguly (@Sudipto_Reuters) September 6, 2021
If Krejcikova wasn’t sick, Muguruza would have lost the second set 6-1!
I’m a Muguruza fan and the truth is tough when your player loses. All credit to Krejcikova! She needed that break to feel better and play better. I’m glad she did!— Bridges (@Bridget_Otoo) September 6, 2021
#Krejcikova was clutching her stomach during the break before the timeout. She got a little emotional after the match because of her injury & #Muguruza was certainly not happy with her momentum being interrupted by an off court MTO. She had missed 3 setpoints at 5-4. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/dYDtRVkVAU
— SportsTalk (@rajeshworld) September 6, 2021
There is no doubt that Krejcikova was physically struglling & took the MTO, meanwhile Muguruza didn't convert the set point, infact she was lucky enough to level the score from 0-4 to 4-4, she didn't play well & she shouldn't complain, move on,there is no debate at all #USOpen
— RENA MUKHERJEE® (@RenaMukherjee) September 6, 2021
Muguruza and team not happy as Krejcikova slowly goes to her towel while she is ready.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/XSMS2wcdzj
— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 6, 2021
It was ... um .. .not solved.
And yes - it's clear you're seeing this from the perspective of a Muguruza fan and not ... as it was.
This is how she left the court. pic.twitter.com/cPEDHnXfXZ— Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) September 6, 2021
Krejcikova needed help in walking off the court. #usopen pic.twitter.com/1A1vdIvKrY
— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 6, 2021
Handshake
Krejcikova: “Sorry”
Muguruza: “So unprofessional”
Muguruza not happy about the delays and the medical timeout at 6-3 5-6. Unclear if it was an abdominal or breathing issue. Barbora was struggling to walk at the end of the match. Extremely dizzy.
Sad scenes all round— Vansh! (@vanshv2k) September 6, 2021
Spain's Garbine Muguruza fumes after US Open loss
In her news conference Muguruza confirmed she was not happy with how things unfolded at the end but declined to elaborate.
“Listen, I don't really want to talk about this. It's…I'll let you guys judge what you think about this," she said.
“Well, I think, between players, you know a little bit how to behave in certain moments and, yeah, I wasn't very happy at the end of the match.”
It was another jarring Flushing Meadows exit for the Spaniard, who has won the French Open and Wimbledon, reached the final in Australia but has failed to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open.
With the clock ticking towards midnight in New York, Muguruza sleepwalked through the early games as Krejcikova surged to a 3-0 lead.
The Spaniard eventually emerged from her slumber but Krejcikova was already in full stride, sweeping through seven straight games to take the opening set and a 4-0 lead in the second at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Muguruza mounted a determined comeback, piling on the pressure to win five games on the trot to move ahead 5-4.
With the score at 6-5 and preparing to serve to force a tie-break, Krejcikova called a medical timeout and left the court clutching her abdomen.
After returning to the court, the Czech held serve to love to force the tie-break, which she easily won 7-4.
with Reuters