After an emotional Wimbledon match between Australian Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece on Sunday, resulting in insults, name-calling, and a debate over who had more friends in the locker room, Tsitsipas called Kyrgios “a bully” during the post-match interview, with Kyrgios retaliating by claiming Tsitsipas was “soft”. Kyrgios earned a 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7) win over Tsitsipas.
Kyrgios, whom the New York Times described as “a dangerous and disruptive force who has so much pure talent, but is so temperamental and combustible, and so drawn to, and disgusted by, his chosen profession that the sport can neither control him nor ignore him”, called Tsitsipas “soft” during the post-match interview.
“I go up against guys who are true competitors. If he’s affected by that today, then that’s what’s holding him back, because someone can just do that and that’s going to throw him off his game like that,” Kyrgios stated. “I just think it’s soft.”
During the match, Kyrgios kept interrupting the game by going after the chair umpire as well as the supervisors for not defaulting Tsitsipas after he hit a ball into the crowd in anger, nearly hitting a fan. Kyrgios argued the umpire would have sent him off if he had done the same thing.
Kyrgios had caused Tsitsipas to lose his temper so much that Tsitsipas started to aim shots at Kyrgios. One of his shots missed and even smashed into the scoreboard, earning him a point penalty.
A post-match interview reveals Tsitsipas did not regret doing so. “I was aiming for the body of my opponent, but I missed by a lot, by a lot…He bullies the opponents …I don’t like bullies,” he said.
Kyrgios’ behavior is a double-edged sword– he makes himself clear that he is not to be trifled with. He bothers the workers on the court for not refilling the changeover chairs with fresh towels and bananas, smashes rackets, and is unafraid to argue with, spit or yell at umpires and referees. His rude behavior regularly amasses tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
However, then he will step on the court again and serve an ace, a curling forehand or a shot between the legs, moves other players can only dream about making.
Link to article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656877247472x354500886515628740/Nick%20Kyrgios%2C%20a%20Dream%20and%20a%20Nightmare%20for%20Wimbledon%2C%20Is%20Winning%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
Kyrgios, whom the New York Times described as “a dangerous and disruptive force who has so much pure talent, but is so temperamental and combustible, and so drawn to, and disgusted by, his chosen profession that the sport can neither control him nor ignore him”, called Tsitsipas “soft” during the post-match interview.
“I go up against guys who are true competitors. If he’s affected by that today, then that’s what’s holding him back, because someone can just do that and that’s going to throw him off his game like that,” Kyrgios stated. “I just think it’s soft.”
During the match, Kyrgios kept interrupting the game by going after the chair umpire as well as the supervisors for not defaulting Tsitsipas after he hit a ball into the crowd in anger, nearly hitting a fan. Kyrgios argued the umpire would have sent him off if he had done the same thing.
Kyrgios had caused Tsitsipas to lose his temper so much that Tsitsipas started to aim shots at Kyrgios. One of his shots missed and even smashed into the scoreboard, earning him a point penalty.
A post-match interview reveals Tsitsipas did not regret doing so. “I was aiming for the body of my opponent, but I missed by a lot, by a lot…He bullies the opponents …I don’t like bullies,” he said.
Kyrgios’ behavior is a double-edged sword– he makes himself clear that he is not to be trifled with. He bothers the workers on the court for not refilling the changeover chairs with fresh towels and bananas, smashes rackets, and is unafraid to argue with, spit or yell at umpires and referees. His rude behavior regularly amasses tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
However, then he will step on the court again and serve an ace, a curling forehand or a shot between the legs, moves other players can only dream about making.
Link to article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656877247472x354500886515628740/Nick%20Kyrgios%2C%20a%20Dream%20and%20a%20Nightmare%20for%20Wimbledon%2C%20Is%20Winning%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
