Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios were involved in one of the most notorious clashes in recent Wimbledon history in 2022 and now one of the combatants of that explosive clash on No.1 Court back in 2022 has given his reflections on the battle.
Kygrios was using every trick in his book to wind up opponent Tsitsipas in their third round clash and it clearly had the desired impact and the Greek star admitted he was boiling with rage long before he was beaten 6-7,(2), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7).
Tsitsipas was fortunate not to be defaulted when he fired a ball into the crowd in anger and if it had directly struck a spectator, he may have been thrown out of Wimbledon.
He escaped that near miss, but could not find a way to get past Kyrgios, as the Aussie secured a win and ended up going all the way to the final, where he lost against Novak Djokovic.
In an exclusive interview with Tennis365 at an Adidas event in London, Tsitsipas looked back on one of the darkest nights of his career and admitted it taught him some valuable lessons.
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“That was a tough match and one that triggered me more than I would have ever expected,” Tsitsipas told Tennis365.
“It turned me into a madman that day. I’ve never seen myself this way on the court.
“I was playing completely congested with a blocked nose that day, and it was getting to my nerves. I was already feeling a little feverish that day and what was happening on the other side of the court triggered it even more and made me explode.
“It triggered me even more. I remember I just completely lost my… I lost my s***.
“I’ve never seen myself be so much out of control, but it taught me a valuable lesson that I should never allow someone to control me that much because I felt like he was in control of my emotions that day.
“I completely abandoned myself and what I stand for. I learned a lot. I realised a lot of things that day… and that is definitely not how to behave on a tennis court.
Stefanos Tsitsipas spoke to Tennis365 at the Adidas Clubhouse event in London
Tsitsipas made his feelings clear in a dramatic press conference at Wimbledon on that Saturday evening, as he pointed an accusing finger at his rival.
“It’s constant bullying, that’s what he does. He bullies the opponents,” declared Tsitsipas.
“He was probably a bully at school himself. I don’t like bullies. I don’t like people who put other people down. He has some good traits in his character, as well. But he also has a very evil side to him.”
The brutal battle between Tsitsipas and Kyrgios featured heavily in an episode of the Netflix series Break Point, with the Greek star forced to clarify his comments in the aftermath of that show being broadcast, as he was accused of using words that were disrespectful to Kyrgios.
“I want to emphasise that I harbour no prejudice towards anyone based on their background, ethnicity, or interests,” he said in a statement released after the Netflix show.
“I deeply regret if my words were misinterpreted or caused offence, as that was never my intention.”
“My previous remarks regarding Nick Kyrgios were not meant to undermine his intelligence or abilities. Instead, I simply intended to express my perspective on certain aspects of his playing style, drawing comparisons to the passion and intensity often associated with basketball.
“It was an attempt to highlight the dynamic and captivating nature of his approach to the game, not a criticism of his character or capabilities.”
The duo attempted to thaw their frosty relationship when they played doubles together in late 2022, but it is safe to assume they will never be close after their intense battle at Wimbledon.
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The post Stefanos Tsitsipas admits Nick Kyrgios ‘turned me into a madman’ in their infamous Wimbledon showdown appeared first on Tennis365.
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