World No 9 Barbora Krejcikova said she felt ‘humiliated’ by the charges levelled by Garbine Muguruza after their fourth round clash on Sunday.
Krejcikova, who squandered a 4-0 lead in the second set and faced set points at 4-5, was seemingly struggling at the end of the set.
ALSO READ: Leylah Fernandez continues giant-killing run at US Open
She took a medical time out tat 6-5 hat lasted more than eight minutes and then took longer breaks between points, trying to catch her breath.
After losing the match 3-6, 6-7 (4), Muguruza was frosty with Krejcikova at the net and called her ‘unprofessional.
Upgrade your serve with our FREE guide
“I just know what she told me at the net. I don’t know what was happening after, I just tried not to look at it,” the Czech player said after going down 1-6, 4-6 to Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.
“Yeah, I guess she has a lot of fans because she’s just playing longer than I do.
ALSO READ: ‘So unprofessional,’ Muguruza tells Krejcikova
“I just didn’t expect that I’m going to be accused like this. Also I was watching a little bit at the end of the match so I knew what was actually happening.
“I just felt right now that I got really humiliated by a Grand Slam champion, which I’ve never seen.”
ALSO READ: Booing drama as Novak Djokovic begins quest for Grand Slam
Krejcikova declined to do the on-court interview and was escorted off the court by the tournament staff.
“It’s tough. I’m sad about it because, to be honest, when I step out of the court, it took me actually one hour to get to the locker room,” she added.
ALSO READ: Sloane Stephens suffers abuse after losing at US Open
“I was in really bad shape. I was just cramping. I felt really, really bad.”
The Czech player is enjoying a breakthrough season in singles. She won the French Open singles as well as doubles title.
ALSO READ: Naomi Osaka to take an indefinite break from tennis
Having played 98 matches, singles and doubles, so far this season, Krejcikova said one of the reasons she was blown away by Sabalenka was because, “the tank was empty.”
