Stefanos Tsitsipas may have played - and lost - one of the games of his season against Alexander Zverev (6-4, 3-6, 7-6) in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, history will remember d first an unusual scene.
At the end of the first round, won by Zverev, the Greek asked to go through the locker room.
Nothing surprising so far, except that Tsitsipas stays there for more than 8 minutes, enraging his opponent.
It's getting * tense * out there ... # CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/ACPlGMM6Rn
- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 21, 2021
Facing the referee, Zverev quickly talks about coaching, a prohibited practice.
“He took his bag and everything in it.
His father is on his phone all the time.
It was the same in Paris (in the semi-final of Roland-Garros, Tsitsipas won in 5 rounds) and it will be the same in each tournament he will play.
The cameras of international television then focus on Apostolos, the father and trainer of Stefanos Tsitsipas, obviously… On his phone.
"I sweat a little more than the others"
After the match, at a press conference, the new world number 3 firmly held his line of defense. “There is nothing crazy, this is not astrophysics, he said. I go to the locker room to change my t-shirt. I don't think it would be very cool if I changed my shorts on the court in front of everyone. I am a person who sweats a little more than the others. I think it's okay, that's just how it works for me. "
An authorized practice, of course, but little appreciated.
We especially remember the critics who targeted Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.
This time, the referee, believing that Tsitsipas had exhausted his break quota, even ended up refusing his request after the second set.
The player did not like it and still does not understand.
“I managed to play while I was sweaty, but it wasn't nice of him.
I'll check the rules later.
One player is allowed to use the bathroom in each individual set, as far as I know.
"
“It's a great rivalry.
There's a lot of fire there, there's a lot of emotions there. ”
@AlexZverev 🔥
Zverev sits down with @PrakashAmritraj to break down his three set battle with Tsitsipas.
@CincyTennis |
#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/RhkQ68OX7y
- Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 22, 2021
Alexander Zverev continued the debate after the meeting.
"I never take medical time out when I don't need it, I never go to the bathroom when I don't need it," slipped the world number 4 at the microphone of the Tennis Channel.
Some people use the rule to their advantage, since it is very flexible.
It also happened in Acapulco (Zverev's victory, editor's note), in Paris, so there was a bit of frustration, but everything is fine.
Everything is fine… at least until the next opposition between the two men.
A real rivalry is well born.