ANDY MURRAY’S US Open rival Corentin Moutet threw a wobbly when he wasn’t given a swig of pickle juice.
And it left tennis fans wondering what all the fuss was about.
Corentin Moutet was upset that no pickle juice was availableRex
The Mega AgencyAndy Murray beat Moutet in straight sets on Monday[/caption]
Trailing Murray by two sets to love in the first round clash, flashy Frenchman Moutet began to struggle physically.
Moutet, 24, endured a nasty fall – appearing to hurt his wrist in the process.
But he also seemed to be concerned about potential cramping.
And the world No72 was heard berating medical staff when no pickle juice was to hand, blasting: “You had it in Cincinnati and everywhere else but not here?”
While it is not to most people’s taste, pickle juice has become popular with athletes – particularly tennis stars.
This is because of its high sodium content – which can help stop cramps.
Murray himself has used pickle juice in the past.
Last summer the 36-year-old struggled with persistent cramping, before getting on top of the issue.
GettyPickle juice has become a regular fixture at many sporting events[/caption]
Former world No1 and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev is also a big proponent of pickle juice.
While last year’s Flushing Meadows semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe has also found it helpful.
Following his win over Grigor Dimitrov at the 2019 Australian Open, the American said: “I had the break, but started to feel my body.
“He played a good game to break me. After that, as you asked me, I was trying to stay alive. I was downing pickle juice, having that like Kool-Aid, just trying to get that done.
“I’m talking straight up: just downing it. It tasted terrible. I’m feeling terrible right now, man.”
At the time, Aussie former world No33 John Millman added: “It helps the cramps. There’s a lot of salt in it.”
Murray will return to action later today, when he faces Dimitrov first up on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Brit has won eight of his 11 meetings with the Bulgarian, although the two have not met since 2016.
Dimitrov, 32, famously ended Murray’s Wimbledon title defence in 2014, beating him in straight sets on Centre Court.
Daniil Medvedev has drunk pickle juice in the pastWWOS.AU
SplashFlushing Meadows favourite Frances Tiafoe has also dabbled with pickle juice[/caption]