Kyrgios beat Tsitsipas in four sets – 6-7(2) 6-4 6-3 7-6(7) – in an action-packed and contentious match on Court One, but the pair continued the feud after the game . press conferences.
Tsitsipas had grown frustrated with Kyrgios’ ‘constant bullying’ from across the net and tried to hit his opponent with a shot during the fiery encounter.
Kyrgios, who spoke throughout, was cautioned for swearing by the referee and remained furious when Tsitsipas was not disqualified for firing a ball into the crowd in frustration.
“Yeah, it’s constant bullying, that’s what he does. He bullies his opponents. He was probably a bully himself at school. I don’t like bullies,” said Tsitsipas to reporters after the match.
“I don’t like people who put other people down. He also has good character traits. But he also has a very evil side to him, which if exposed can really do a lot of harm and bad for you. the people around him.”
Kyrgios, who has previously made headlines at Wimbledon for his outbursts and daring shots, mocked his opponents’ comments, calling them “sweet”.
He previously said he has huge respect for the Greek in an on-pitch interview immediately after the game.
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how I bullied him. He was the one who hit balls at me, he was the one who hit a spectator, he was the one who did it out of the stadium,” Kyrgios told reporters after reaching the knockout stages.
“I didn’t do anything disrespectful to Stefanos today. I wasn’t forcing him with bullets. To come here and say I bullied him is just sweet. We’re not cut from the same cloth. I come up against guys who are real competitors.
“I have a lot of friends in the dressing room, just so you know. I’m actually one of the most loved. I’m ready. He’s not loved. Let’s just say that there.”
Tsitsipas later apologized for firing a bullet into the crowd and admitted trying to hit Kyrgios with a body shot.
“I’m not used to playing that way,” he said. “But I can’t just sit there and act like a robot and act like someone who’s completely cold and ignorant.
“Because you’re doing your job and you hear noise from across the pitch for no absolute reason.
“Every point I played today felt like something was happening on the other side of the net.
“It’s his way of manipulating the opponent and distracting you, in a way. There’s no other player who does that. I really hope all of us players can come up with something and do something about it. a cleaner version of our sport, having this type of behavior that is not accepted, not allowed, not tolerated.”
Kyrgios, who will face American Brandon Nakashima in the next round, said Tsitsipas should be more worried about finding a way to beat him.
“I would be pretty upset if I lost to someone two weeks in a row. Maybe he should figure out how to beat me a few more times first,” added the Aussie.
