'Shut up!': Andy Murray falls to fiery Fognini in Shanghai Masters shootout after failing to silence Italian

Italian Fabio Fognini fired past a returning Andy Murray at the Shaghai Masters round of 32 on Tuesday after an intense match that saw the two exchange heated words, with the Brit at one point telling Fognini to "shut up!"

Fognini squeezed past Murray in three sets 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 on a tie break in the deciding set to book his place in the last 16, but the win was ladened with bad tempered incidents in the match. 

During a changeover int he deciding set, Murray and Fognini had a coming together near the net, in which Murray took exception to his opponent bellowing "don't look at me" during a point.

Murray snapped "you say the same to everyone" and sat down, before he decided to over and remonstrate.

While relaying his frustrations to the chair umpire, Murray barked at the world number 12 "shut up!" before taking a seat and being told the matter was under control. 

The Brit, 32, was playing in his sixth singles tournament since having a hip resurfacing operation in January, and was twice in position to serve out for the match in the decider.

The second of those came after a fiery exchange in the changeover when Murray accused Fognini of trying to put him off by shouting as he nailed a net volley.

When Murray complained to umpire Fergus Murphy about his opponent's behavior, Fognini simply laughed off the matter and kept his nerve to clinch the tiebreaker 7-6.

The two did share a handshake at the net after the tie, but the stony stare in three-time Grand Slam champion Murray's eyes was evident that the Italian had goten under his skin.

AFP / HECTOR RETAMAL