Andy Murray claims Juan Martin Del Potro insulted his mother during a first-round match at the Rome Masters.

"Someone saying something about your mother who is one of the nicest ladies you're ever going to meet? I don't think that's really that cool," Murray said after Del Potro retired while trailing 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 late on Monday.

Judy Murray provided vocal support for her son from the stands during the match. Andy Murray did not elaborate on the nature of the alleged insults by Del Potro, an Argentine qualifier.

Tempers started to flare after Del Potro nearly hit Murray in the head with a ball in the second set.

"I played a serve-and-volley and hit a bad volley in the middle of the service box and he came in and hit a full-power backhand straight at my head," Murray said.

"I would have thought it's normal to apologize for something like that, and not to get an apology was a little bit disappointing.

"After that, the next two or three points I was maybe shouting, 'Come on,' a little bit more than I usually do," Murray said.

The British player was warned at one point for bad language.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily May 7, 2008)