Andy Murray Sympathizes With Naomi Osaka Who Audiences Mock As 'lousy', But Says It's Part Of The Sport

JAKARTA - Andy Murray expressed sympathy for Naomi Osaka after she was booed with boos in Saturday night's second-round loss at Indian Wells. Murray says rogue spectators are an unfortunate part of the sport.

Osaka was thrown off her game and started crying after someone shouted "Naomi, you suck!" at the start of her 6-0 6-4 loss to Veronika Kudermetova.

After the match, Osaka spoke directly to a supportive crowd, saying the incident was reminiscent of the abuse Venus and Serena Williams received at the tournament in 2001, which led them to boycott the event for more than a decade.

"This is a difficult one," said Murray after the second round defeat on Sunday local time or Monday WIB quoted by Antara, Monday.

"I think it happens in certain sports, I wouldn't say I see it often in tennis... but if I watch football or a football match and a player is going to throw in a throw-in or a corner, and the crowd is booing to those people."

"I always thought, how is that allowed? You can't do that," Murray said, adding that such behavior was unacceptable in a public place or any other workplace.

Murray said he had heard "uncomfortable" comments when playing a Davis Cup game away from his hometown.

"Obviously I sympathize with Naomi, that it upset her a lot but yeah, I guess that's always been part of the sport," said Murray.

"So, you know, you have to, I think, be prepared for that in some way and be able to tolerate it because it happens a lot in all sports."