Stefanos Tsitsipas’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou has defended the Greek player who has come under fire at the US Open for taking long toilet breaks.

Tsitsipas, the tournament’s third seed, was heavily criticized by Andy Murray after their first round match which the Greek won in five sets.

Tsitsipas riled up Murray by taking two lengthy bathroom breaks, while the Greek took another lengthy break in his second round win over Adrian Mannarino.

READ | Fuming Andy Murray made TWO rookie mistakes in US Open defeat to Stefanos Tsitsipas

Claims of cheating have been laid at Tsitsipas’ door, with some even suggesting he uses his phone during the toilet breaks.

However, Mouratoglou has strongly denied this.

“Tsitsipas is everything but a cheater. I can’t hear stuff like that. There was people saying stupid things about him texting his father. His phone was at the hotel,” Mouratoglou said on Eurosport.

Tsitsipas himself added he can’t see why fans boo him and rivals complain.

“I didn’t break any rules,” Tsitsipas said in a US Open press conference. “There is rule for that which really doesn’t specify the time you have to spend in the bathroom. It’s important to take it if you have to.

“For me it’s important to take that break. For someone else probably not. And everyone has his own time. I try and be as quick as I can. Sometimes I just need a bit more time. That’s all.”

Picture: Stefanos Tsitsipas – ATP Tour/Twitter

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