Exclusive: ‘Not fair for players’ – Boris Becker backs Andy Murray over ‘disrespectful’ rules view at Australian Open

Eurosport expert Boris Becker has hailed Britain’s Andy Murray as a “true champion” after his famous five-set victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday.

It was also the longest match of Murray’s career with the former world No. 1 having come so close to retiring at the Australian Open in 2019 and undergone two very serious hip surgeries in recent years.

For Becker, the result was both a reflection of Murray’s “Scottish Braveheart spirit” but also a poor example of how Grand Slam rules can affect players and create unfair circumstances late at night.

“Andy is a true champion,” Becker told Eurosport Germany’s Matchball Becker show as part of the Australian Open coverage.

“Sure, he won three Grand Slams and was the world No. 1 – but especially this Scottish Braveheart spirit, you can’t learn. It’s in his blood.

“He has always been an incredible fighter. After all these injuries, it is absolutely incredible what Murray has done here again.”

On the big debate surrounding the decision to allow the match to continue into the night, Becker questioned in what other sport this would be permitted.

“The question is whether it makes sense to play that long,” Becker said. “It is also a bit of a distortion of competition.

“Murray wins here at five minutes past four in the morning, then there is the cool down and the press conference. He won’t get to the hotel before six or half-past six – and you can’t even think of sleeping then.

“He may have a day off from playing, but his entire body rhythm is disrupted. In which sport do you play until four in the morning?

“That is not fair for the players who go on there. However, he has to make sure that the blood is running again, and that he starts sweating again.

“Of course, he is very tired the day after the match and his joints hurt. But he can’t stay in bed until three or four o’clock in the afternoon because he might have to be back on the court tomorrow afternoon.”

– – –