Fabio Fognini speaks out after on-court row with Andy Murray at Shanghai Masters
Fabio Fognini has spoken out after his on-court argument with Andy Murray, during their clash at the Shanghai Masters earlier this week.
Fabio Fognini has insisted he won’t “shut up”, after a furious row with Andy Murray at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.
The Italian was accused of distracting Murray during the match, which Fognini eventually won.
Murray told Fognini to “shut up” during the argument, which stemmed from claims he was shouting at the Brit right before he was about to strike a volley.
Murray was left remonstrating with the umpire, but Fognini insists that these types of arguments are all just part and parcel of the job.
I don't shut up
“I don't shut up,” he said, after reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
“We know each other really well.
“Inside the court we are almost the same because most of the time I am complaining and he is complaining.
“But that is part of our job.”
The argument occurred during the Round of 32 match between the pair, which Fognini eventually won 7-6 6-2 7-6.
Murray suggested the Italian is known for his dark arts tactics, in a bid to try and put his opponents off.
“You say the same to everyone,” Murray raged at the start of the confrontation.
“Mate, you do the same in every match. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”
Murray then turned to the umpire to tell his side of the story.
“So what happened… When I had a volley on top of the net, he shouts…”, but the Brit was interrupted by his rival.
“[To Fognini] Shut up. [To umpire] I had a volley on top of the net. He shouts, and then tells me ‘don’t look at me’.
“I’m like ‘you just shouted in the middle of the point’.”
Fognini has now set up a quarter-final tie against third seed Daniil Medvedev, which is scheduled for Friday.
The winner will set up a match against either Novak Djokovic or Stefanos Tsitsipas.