Andy Murray: ‘I’m trying to cheat Fabio because Mo couldn’t read a mark properly’

“Hot heads” Andy Murray and Fabio Fognini produced yet another dramatic match as things got heated during their first-round encounter at the 2023 Italian Open.
Facing each other on the ATP Tour for the first time their controversial 2019 Shanghai Masters clash when Murray told Fognini to “shut up” during an on-court argument, there were once again fiery moments at Foro Italico on Wednesday.
Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani was at the centre of the drama in the first set as a lob from Fognini was called in by a line judge, much to Murray’s dismay. Lahyani came to check the point, but he agreed with the line judge.
“It’s a little bit on the line here. The linesman called it good, there’s a little bit there, there’s a little bit white here, it’s just touching it,” the chair official said.
Murray was having none of it as he shouted: “Mate, you can see the ball mark there. Mohamed, look. How can you see that ball from there being in? How is it possible? You’re trying to make a mark now.”
The argument continued while those in the stands booed loudly.
Oh the joys of a clay court 😅#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/AGsKUfbX4Y
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 10, 2023
The point went to Fognini – who described himself and Murray as “hotheads” who “lose their cool pretty quickly” in his 2020 autobiography – and the Italian ended up winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in just under three hours, but Murray didn’t let the incident go after the match
The three-time Grand Slam winner hit out at the crowd and Lahyani, replying to an Instagram post: “Stadium full of Italians booing and whistling, thinking I’m trying to cheat Fabio out of point all because Mo [Mohamed Lahyani] couldn’t read a mark properly. Cheers mate.”
His brother Jamie was also unimpressed by the chair umpire’s decision while he also called for Electronic Line Calling Live (ELC) to be introduced sooner. The ATP announced earlier in May that ELC will become compulsory at all tournaments from 2025.
🤡 how do you get this so wrong when you can get off your chair and look at the mark?! Where’s #ELC pic.twitter.com/OZtkb431JK
— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) May 10, 2023
“🤡 how do you get this so wrong when you can get off your chair and look at the mark?! Where’s #ELC,” the doubles great wrote on Twitter.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi believed it was time to “embrace innovation and new technologies” by adopting ELC, saying: “Our sport deserves the most accurate form of officiating and we’re delighted to be able to deliver this across our whole Tour from 2025.”
Latest
-
Tennis Features
Six ways clay courts are superior to hard courts
Clay courts often get a bad rap with the odd player gripe repeated endlessly in the media, but the surface has a number of big upsides.
-
Tennis News
WATCH: Intense Felix Auger-Aliassime brushes off Laver Cup spat with Gael Monfils
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gael Monfils shared some heated moments after the Canadian complained to the umpire during their Laver Cup clash.
-
ATP Tour
More questions for Andy Murray to answer after another agonising defeat
Andy Murray blew an early lead as he crashed to defeat against Aslan Karatsev in the last 16.
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer reveals what he misses about tennis as Rafael Nadal surprises him
Speaking in an interview with former world No 1 Jim Courier at the Laver Cup, the 20-time Grand Slam champion reflected on how his life chan
-
US Open
Top coach spotted Coco Gauff’s potential very early on
Patrick Mouratoglou has revealed that Coco Gauff left a big impression on him during their first meeting.
-
Tennis News
British star set for rankings breakthrough after a decade on the ATP Tour
Liam Broady set to break into the top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time.
-
Tennis News
Guadalajara proves a balm for Maria Sakkari’s suffering once again
Maria Sakkari feels that the bond between herself and Guadalajara has grown closer after another deep run in the Mexican city.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic hits raw nerve with tennis chiefs after latest controversial comments
Djokovic has made some radical proposals that would ensure the huge amounts of cash being generated by gambling goes to tennis players.
-
Tennis News
Ben Shelton salutes the three players who have taken him under their wing
Ben Shelton has paid homage to the brotherhood of the top American men in the game.
-
Tennis News
Can Cameron Norrie still reach the ATP Tour finals powered by strong Asian swing?
Cameron Norrie is out to reach the ATP Tour finals this term.