Coach Patrick Mouratoglou rubbishes “cheating” allegations directed at Stefanos Tsitsipas at 2021 US Open

Coach Patrick Mouratoglou rubbishes “cheating” allegations directed at Stefanos Tsitsipas at 2021 US Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas with father Apostolos Tsitsipas and coach Patrick Mouratoglou

World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou has come in strong support of his charge after a series of allegations were directed at the Greek for taking regular bathroom breaks, during the 2021 US Open.

Although Tsitsipas has not been going against the rules, he has been found guilty of taking extended bathroom breaks during his matches at the US Open. Former World No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion even accused the 23-year-old of cheating and unfair play.

Moreover, World No.4 Alexander Zverev too claimed that Tsitsipas was texting his father and coach Apostolos, during a bathroom break in Cincinnati.

However, the French coach has been clear in his views on how his pupil has been unfairly blamed. He further opined that although Tsitsipas has taken more time between sets, but his behaviour was far from “unsportsmanlike.”

“It is true that Stefanos takes a lot of time. It does not seek to break the rhythm, it would be foolish in his case: he had just won the 4th set. It’s your momentum, you don’t want to break it, so it’s not at all.”

“I heard stupid things like him texting his dad. He didn’t even have his phone. His phone was at the hotel. So that doesn’t make sense. And you can’t imagine that someone like Stefanos would do something like that. He’s anything but a cheater and I can’t accept to hear things like that.”

Alcaraz stuns Tsitsipas

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

Meanwhile, the Greek star’s US Open went from bad to worse in the third round, after his shocking loss to the Spanish youngster, Carlos Alcaraz. In one of the best matches of this year’s US Open, the 17-year-old beat Tsitsipas in five sets.

In the third round too, the French Open finalist took a break in the final set, and was even booed by the crowd at the Arthur Ashe stadium.

Also read: “I don’t fear any of these guys,” Frances Tiafoe puts on a late night show at US Open 2021; defeats Andrey Rublev in a thriller