BAGHDATIS BACKS UP ANDY OVER FIASCO OF VERDASCO

VETERAN Cypriot star Marcos Baghdatis revealed last night that Fernando Verdasco did speak to his coach in the locker room during the controversial heat break that dissected his US Open win over Andy Murray. Yet Baghdatis, who found himself dragged into Wednesday’s fracas as an accidental witness, does not believe that the Spaniard was trying to seek an advantage, and described the chaotic scene inside the inner sanctum as ‘a mess’. As another officiating dispute ended with umpire Mohamed Lahyani escaping sanction for the pep talk he gave to Nick Kyrgios on Thursday, Baghdatis criticised the handling of this week’s heat breaks that so incensed Murray. Baghdatis was in the ice bath next to Verdasco during the timeout. Murray stormed out on to court afterwards, complaining to the umpire that officials had allowed his opponent to speak to his coach, contrary to regulations: ‘I had to tell them because nobody knows the f***ing rules,’ raged the Scot. Later, via Instagram, he mocked Verdasco’s denials, stating that he needs a ‘health check as apparently I’ve started imagining things’. Now neutral witness Baghdatis has given his account: ‘I was in the ice bath next to Fernando. I think him and Andy are both right in a way. Verdasco was not controlled by anybody so his coach came. They didn’t talk about the match, I didn’t hear that, just gave him some shoes and helped him change. ‘But Andy is right: what are the officials doing, not controlling the situation? The officials were not doing their jobs. If you put in a rule you have to follow it. It’s all over the place.’ Referring to the official meant to be overseeing the heat break Baghdatis added: ‘He was not even there. Verdasco was screaming “Man, how long do I have?” and I had to go and ask the guy how long he has, so it was a mess. It’s not Verdasco’s fault if his coach is allowed there, it’s the officials’ fault. He didn’t do anything bad but Andy is right. US Open should do its job right. If everyone did their job right, no problem.’ Yesterday it was announced that Lahyani will not be punished for appearing to inspire Kyrgios’s second-round fightback against Pierre-Hugues Herbert. This was due to ‘his exemplary track record’ but he was warned that he had exceeded protocols and his future matches will be closely monitored. In last night’s third round Venus Williams was facing her sister Serena for the 30th time in their careers.