Stefanos Tsitsipas has said that his comments made on Netflix鈥檚 鈥淏reak Point鈥� docuseries about Nick Kyrgios were 鈥渕isinterpreted鈥� after some individuals on social media perceived them as racist.
Speaking about his third-round loss to the Australian at Wimbledon last year, Tsitsipas said in 鈥淏reak Point鈥� that Kyrgios鈥� approach to tennis is 鈥渦neducated鈥� and that he brings 鈥渢hat NBA basketball kind of attitude鈥� to the sport.
The world No. 5 said in a statement Friday on social media: 鈥淚t has come to my attention that some individuals have misinterpreted my comments regarding Nick Kyrgios, labeling him as uneducated and accusing him of bringing a basketball mentality into tennis, insinuating racism where none exists.鈥�
Tsitsipas wrote that he 鈥渄eeply regrets any hurt or offense鈥� caused by his comments, adding that they 鈥渨ere not meant to undermine (Kyrgios鈥�) intelligence or abilities 鈥� It was an attempt to highlight the dynamic and captivating nature of his approach to the game, not a criticism of his character or capabilities.鈥�
Kyrgios responded with a statement of his own on social media, saying on Saturday: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had some crazy battles and I know deep down you like my brand of tennis 鈥� we are all good.鈥�
Their Wimbledon match was 鈥渁 very heated battle,鈥� Kyrgios added, and 鈥渟ometimes as players we got into these press conferences without digesting the match.鈥�
Tempers had flared during their fiery encounter at Wimbledon. Tsitsipas hit a ball into the crowd, for which he later apologized, and admitted to trying to hit Kyrgios with a body shot. Both players were fined afterwards, Tsitsipas for unsportsmanlike conduct and Kyrgios for an audible obscenity.
They continued to trade barbs off the court 鈥� the Greek fourth seed calling his opponent 鈥渆vil鈥� and a 鈥渂ully,鈥� while Kyrgios said Tsitsipas is 鈥渘ot liked鈥� in the locker room.
After defeating Tsitsipas 6-7(2) 6-4 6-3 7-6(7), Kyrgios continued his Wimbledon run and reached the final where he succumbed to Novak Djokovic.
Both players are due to compete in this year鈥檚 tournament, which begins on July 3.
