Andy Murray says a spray seemingly directed at Australian Open semi-final opponent Tomas Berdych from his fiancee Kim Sears was the product of a media-fuelled maelstrom.
Murray prevailed 6-7 (8-6) 6-0 6-3 7-5 over his seventh-seeded opponent after a tense first set that threatened to boil over into confrontation.
The Czech aimed several long stares at Murray and broke etiquette by looking to address Murray at the change of ends after the marathon first set.
In the background was the much-discussed move of Murray's former coach and confidant Dani Vallverdu from the Scot's camp to Berdych's corner.
The white-hot intensity of a grand slam semi-final and the pair's personal animosity - real or media-imagined - certainly got to Sears.
She was caught on camera, with no audio, appearing to aim the most colourful of language in Berdych's direction.
Her blow-up made front page news in Britain, where Andy Murray's run to the final has been closely watched.
After the match, Murray repeatedly criticised the large media contingent for creating a tense atmosphere for the match.
"In the heat of the moment you can say stuff that you regret," he said.
"When there's a lot of tension surrounding something, which (the media) created, then it's completely normal that ... everyone was tight."
"My physical trainer, physio, I'm sure for Dani it was uncomfortable.
"Even Tomas, who very rarely says anything on the court, there was tension there for him.
Berdych said his words to Murray at the first set change was just "Come on Tomas" and any talk of his piercing blue-eyed gaze was overblown.
"I mean, where should I look?" he said.
"There is no really big deal about anything what was happening today on the court.
"It was a great battle ... unfortunately with a bad end for me."
Murray will play either reigning champion Stan Wawrinka or world No.1 Novak Djokovic in Sunday night's final.
