Andy Murray has let rip with complaints over Australian Open scheduling after finishing up a scrambling marathon victory at 4 am on Friday.
The five-time finalist who has come through half a decade of hip surgeries and their resulting rehab, outlasted Aussie Thanasi Kokknakis in a second-rounder which ended only an hour or two before sun-up.
It mimicked a similar all-nighter in the 2008 third round, when Lleyton Hewitt beat Marcos Baghdatis in five sets and walked away from the court at dawn.
Former No. 1 Murray was not impressed and let fly at officials after finally getting the job done over his Aussie opponent after spending nearly six hours on the Margaret Court showcourt.
“I don’t know who it’s beneficial for. We come here (to a press conference) after the match, and that’s what discussion is.
“Rather than it being like epic Murray-Kokkinakis match, it ends in a bit of a farce,” Murray said.
“Amazingly people stayed until the end. I really appreciate people doing that, creating an atmosphere for us at the end. I really appreciate that.
“Some people need to work the following day and everything.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion also got into it with the unbending chair umpire, who refused to let him take a toilet break after five hours of battle at the end of the fourth set.
“I mean, do you know something,” Murray told the chair. “I respect the rules. It’s so disrespectful that the tournament has us out here until 3, f***ing 4 o’clock in the morning and we’re not allowed to take a piss.”
He added: “It is a joke and you know it as well. It’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to you, it’s disrespectful to the ball children, it’s disrespectful to the players.
“And we’re not allowed to go to the toilet. Ridiculous.”
Main photo:- Andy Murray wins marathon five setter before berating Tennis Australia – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
