The drama continues on social media in the aftermath of the bitter clash between Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday, when they faced each other on day six of the Wimbledon tennis championship. Their rivalry reached a new level as Australian Greek Kyrgios defeated Tsitsipas in a stormy four-set battle 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.
Nick Kyrgios’ father, George, slammed officials of double standards when they did not take action after Tsitsipas smacked a ball into the crowd in frustration.
“My son would have been defaulted” for the same act and thrown out of the game, he told BBC Tennis podcast.
“You’ve got to draw the line for everybody. I hate to see it for anyone. I feel sorry for all of them – the pressure is so much.”
The match was dramatic in every sense with both players copping a fine for conduct. Tsitsipas received a fine of $10,000 (USD) for “unsportsmanlike conduct”, and Kyrgios $4,000 (USD) for “audible obscenity”.
When Stefanos Tsitsipas hit a ball into the crowd, Nick Kyrgios refused to play on unless his opponent was defaulted
His antics sparked a fiery attack from Pat Cash who accused his fellow Australian of poor gamesmanship, adding that he was turning the game into a ‘circus’.
When Tsitsipas hit the ball into the crowd, he could have been defaulted, and Kyrgios tried to get officials to do just that. Speaking out, after his defeat, Tsitsipas, who also tried to hit his opponent with the ball twice, claimed the Australian was a bully with an “evil side” to him, whilst Kyrgios described Tsitsipas as just soft with “serious issues”.
The 1987 Wimbledon Champion said that he was disgusted by his compatriot, stating on BBC radio that “He’s brought tennis to the lowest level I can see as far as gamesmanship, cheating, manipulation, abuse, aggressive behaviour to umpires, to linesmen”.
“I have no problems with a bit of gamesmanship but, when it gets to that level, I think it’s just out of control.
“As it was, the umpire lost control. The ball kids were running across the court as Kyrgios was serving, he didn’t slow down for any of that stuff. Tsitsipas got sucked right into it – so it was entertaining and fascinating, but for me it’s gone too far now.”
Both Mats Wilander and John McEnroe also spoke out about the controversial match.
Three-time Australian Open champion Wilander told Eurosport: “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m not sure I want to see something like that again, to be honest, because I don’t think this is what we want to promote in tennis.”
McEnroe, the man once dubbed “Superbrat” for his behaviour on court also attacked Kyrgios while commentating for ESPN. “It’s embarrassing. He doesn’t need to do all this.” Adding that “It’s scary how good he is – that’s what’s sad in a way.”
