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Nick Kyrgios hit back at Stefanos Tsitsipas' "clown" jibe over their strained relationship since competing in a high-tension affair at Wimbledon last year. After Tsitsipas recently criticized Kyrgios yet again for his behavior in the third-round match, Kyrgios suggested that Tsitsipas also acted out in anger while being "taught a lesson" on a packed Court 1 at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios won the match in four sets after losing the opening set, while tempers flared up quite a lot throughout the clash. Later, Tsitsipas slammed Kyrgios for turning the match into a stressful contest that would not be remembered for the quality of tennis on display. The Australian responded in like.
2023 Australian Open finalist Tsitsipas recently reflected on the match and declared that their broken relationship and the infamous contest at Wimbledon was entirely Kyrgios' fault.
"He was the one who broke our relationship. I didn't do anything," Stefanos Tsitsipas said, as per Greek media outlet Tromaktiko.
"In 2022 Wimbledon I was only trying to compete, while he was playing the clown. It also depends on how he wakes up each day."
Nick Kyrgios reacted to the same, highlighting that his Greek counterpart also expressed his anger and frustration on multiple occasions in the match, before taunting Tsitsipas over defeating him.
"Right….. this the match he hit someone in the crowd….. belted another ball out of the stadium and got taught a lesson in front of another full stadium…..," Nick Kyrgios replied.
Since the Wimbledon row, the two players have shared the court once, when they paired up for an exhibition doubles event, albeit not by choice. Both Kyrgios and Tsitsipas lost their respective singles matches at the Diriyah Tennis Cup in December and were then automatically paired together for the doubles event. They lost the match in straight sets to Hubert Hurkacz and Dominic Stricker.
Nick Kyrgios reacts to good friend Novak Djokovic's victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2023 Australian Open final
Nick Kyrgios lauded Novak Djokovic for his straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 2023 Australian Open final last Sunday. Kyrgios highlighted Djokovic's brilliance and congratulated his good friend, further saying that he enjoyed the show as Djokovic beat Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(5) to win his 22nd Grand Slam singles title.
"Haha I told you. We created a monster. Well done @DjokerNole…. Sat on my couch and enjoyed the entire show. Soak it all in," Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
Incidentally, Djokovic has beaten Kyrgios and Tsitsipas, respectively, in his last two Grand Slam finals. After beating Tsitsipas in the infamous third-round contest at Wimbledon, Kyrgios ended up reaching his maiden Grand Slam singles final, before losing to Djokovic in four sets.
