World number five Stefanos Tsitsipas has sharply criticised the behaviour of tennis bully Nick Kyrgios in their Wimbledon clash.
“It’s constant bullying. He bullies his opponents,” the Greek said of his former Australian doubles partner. “He was probably a bully at school. I don’t like bullies. I don’t like people who put other people down.” Kyrgios had won the third-round clash at the grass-court classic at Wimbledon and misbehaved several times, as did Tsitsipas himself.
Kyrgios largely denied the allegations against himself and, on the other hand, stressed misconduct by Tsitsipas. “He was the one hitting balls at me,” the 27-year-old said. “Away from my back and forth with the referee, I didn’t do anything disrespectful to Stefanos. “
Warnings on both sides
There were warnings on both sides of Kyrgios’ 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7). The Australian called for a disqualification of his opponent when he hit a ball into the spectator stands. “That was really bad of me,” Tsitsipas said self-critically. “I apologised to the crowd. I don’t know what went through my head.”
Kyrgios got into it with the referees several times, asking umpire Damien Dumusois “Are you stupid?”, using swear words and also mobbing his own team in the stands. Tsitsipas aimed several balls directly at his opponent’s body. “This has to stop. It’s not okay. Someone needs to sit him down and talk,” the 23-year-old said. It had been a “circus show”. Kyrgios had good character traits but also “a very nasty side”.
Kyrgios sensed a sore loser in Tsitsipas, having beaten him twice in just over two weeks. “Maybe he should try to figure out how to beat me a couple of times first,” said the Australian, calling his opponent “soft”.
