Stefanos Tsitsipas clarifies comments about Nick Kyrgios

Stefanos Tsitsipas has issued a statement on his Facebook page clarifying comments he made about Nick Kyrgios during last year’s Wimbledon that were featured in the Netflix documentary “Break Point” and perceived as racist by some on social media. Tsitsipas was beaten by Kyrgios in the third round of the tournament, and after the match, he described Kyrgios’ tennis approach as “uneducated” and said he brought an “NBA basketball attitude” to the sport. Tsitsipas has said that his comments have been misinterpreted and that he harbors no prejudice towards anyone based on their background, ethnicity or interests. He has expressed regret if his words caused offense.

Kyrgios acknowledged Tsitsipas’ statement on Twitter and said that the pair are “all good.”

Tsitsipas’ comments meant to express his perspective on Kyrgios’ playing style

Tsitsipas has stated that his comments were not meant to undermine Kyrgios’ ability or intelligence. He said that he intended to express his perspective on certain aspects of Kyrgios’ playing style, drawing comparisons to the passion and intensity often associated with basketball. Tsitsipas clarified that his comments were an attempt to highlight the dynamic and captivating nature of Kyrgios’ approach to the game, and not a criticism of his character or capabilities. Tsitsipas has said that he commits to being more mindful of his words and the impact they may have in the future.

During the match, both players were involved in a fiery clash, with Kyrgios being warned for swearing while Tsitsipas tried to hit him with a smash after coming close to being defaulted for hitting a ball in frustration into the crowd. After the match, Tsitsipas called Kyrgios a “bully” with “an evil side,” while Kyrgios laughed off the remarks and said Tsitsipas had “serious issues.” Kyrgios, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2022 Wimbledon final, withdrew from the warm-up Halle tournament this week due to an ongoing knee issue. However, he has said that he hopes to play in this year’s All England Club championships, which run from July 3 to 16.