Stefanos Tsitsipas has openly admitted to losing his composure during his notorious third-round match against Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon in 2022. The Greek tennis star described the heated encounter as a moment where he “lost his mind” and reacted more intensely than he ever anticipated.
The Infamous 2022 Wimbledon Encounter
The highly anticipated third-round match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon on July 2, 2022, quickly devolved into a contentious affair. Kyrgios ultimately prevailed in four sets with a score of 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7). However, the scoreline only tells a fraction of the story. The match was characterized by a series of dramatic exchanges, code violations, and arguments with the umpire from both players, creating what many described as a “circus” atmosphere.
Tsitsipas’s Frustration Boils Over
During the match, Kyrgios’s unconventional tactics and constant provocations visibly agitated Tsitsipas. At one point, after a Kyrgios underarm serve, Tsitsipas hit a ball wildly away, earning himself a point penalty. He also narrowly avoided disqualification after hitting a ball into the crowd in frustration. Tsitsipas later admitted he was aiming for Kyrgios’s body with another shot, though he missed. These actions led to boos from the crowd.
Post-Match Accusations and Revelations
In the aftermath of the match, the animosity continued in their respective press conferences. Tsitsipas labeled Kyrgios a “bully” with an “evil side,” accusing him of “constant bullying” and showing “zero respect.” He also stated that Kyrgios had an “uneducated approach of playing tennis” and brought an “NBA basketball attitude” to the sport, which he felt was inappropriate for a “gentleman’s sport” like tennis. Tsitsipas further claimed that Kyrgios was “trying to destroy my rhythm” and “kept putting his towel in my box” to frustrate him.
Kyrgios, in turn, dismissed Tsitsipas’s comments as “soft” and suggested Tsitsipas had “serious issues.” He also implied that Tsitsipas was “not liked” in the locker room, unlike himself.
Tsitsipas’s Later Reflections
Years later, Tsitsipas reflected on the match with candid honesty. He told Tennis365, “It was a tough match that made me react way more than I ever expected. That day, I lost my mind. I had never seen myself like that on a court before.” He attributed some of his heightened reaction to feeling unwell at the time, with a blocked nose and a slight fever, which he said pushed him “over the edge.”
Crucially, Tsitsipas stated that he learned a valuable lesson from the experience: “I should never allow someone to control me like that. He was in control of my emotions. I learned and realized so much that day. And that’s not how you should behave on a tennis court.” His mother, Julia Sergeyevna Apostoli, also commented on the match, stating that Kyrgios is the “only person who confuses Stefanos” and makes him “lose his mind” with his “dirty’ tennis.”
In June 2023, Tsitsipas clarified some of his earlier “uneducated approach” comments, stating they were “misinterpreted” and not intended to be racist or undermine Kyrgios’s ability. He explained that he was attempting to highlight the “dynamic and captivating nature” of Kyrgios’s playing style by drawing comparisons to basketball’s intensity. He expressed regret if his words caused offense and committed to being more mindful in the future.
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