World No.49 Daniil Medvedev has spoken out about his highly animated clash with Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Miami Open last month.
The two players attracted media attention for their argument at the end of their match, which Medvedev won in three sets. During the closing stages of the encounter, the Russian criticised his opponent for not apologizing for a netcord. The two also expressed frustration with each other over the length of their toilet breaks. It wasn’t until the match has concluded that Medvedev lost his cool. Calling his Greek opponent ‘a small kid who doesn’t know how to fight’ in an outburst that triggered the umpire to step in.
Speaking about the incident in a recent interview with Sport Express, Medvedev has now dismissed the hype surrounding it. The Russian has previously been penalised for his behaviour on the court. Last year he was fined £11,200 at Wimbledon for unsportsmanlike conduct. Moments after his second round loss, he threw coins in front of the umpire’s chair. A action he has since apologised for.
“I cannot say that something special happened. If you take other sports, there is always something like this happening. In hockey, people generally fight, in football they yell at each other.” He said about his Miami squabble.
“In tennis, this is simply not the case. But it happens. I think we are not the first to quarrel on the court. I’m not angry with him.”
Medvedev also said that he believes Tsitsipas has since blocked him from viewing his Instagram account. Miami was the first time the two have played each other on the tour. Prior to the match Medvedev said that he has not spoken with the Greek player.
“No, that’s why it’s hard for me to judge his words.” He replied when asked if had interacted with Tsitsipas before Miami. “If it was not him, but, say, Karen (Khachanov), we would embrace right after the match in the locker room, apologize to each other.”
Tsitsipas, who has a Russian mother and a Greek father, has also dismissed his clash with Medvedev. Saying that he never wanted to engage in a fight with him.
“I lost and was very frustrated. I’ve said not the best things and there’s nothing good in it. But I didn’t want to fight or something like this.” He told Sport Express in a separate interview earlier this month.
The two players will be in action over the weekend. Medvedev will play in his country’s Davis Cup tie against Austria. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas is the top seed in the qualifying draw for next week’s Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco.
