Stefanos Tsitsipas rows back: "What I said was very unfair"
Stefanos Tsitsipas caused an uproar at the Nitto ATP Finals with his statements to Andrey Rublev. Now the Greek rowed back.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Dec 05, 2022, 12:30 pm
It was a very strange match, in which there was still so much at stake: In the last group game of the Nitto ATP finals, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev had it in their own hands in a direct duel to make the promotion to the semifinals perfect. In the end, the Russian made it, although he looked like the clearly inferior player on Center Court for a sentence and a half. Stefanos Tsitsipas gave the game completely out of his hands at the end of the second period.
Much to the displeasure of the Greek, who said immediately after his departure that Rublev had defeated him - "with the few weapons" he had. ugly. And not without a headwind. Tsitsipas was confronted with a veritable shitstorm on social media, spurred the critics on with a posting "Dear haters, I have so much to be angry about, just be patient". No exit in grand style.
Tsitsipas wanted to incite Rublev
In any case, the Greek now showed himself to be purified. "What I said against Rublev in the press conference was very unfair and incorrect to him, " Tsitsipas told Arab News. However, according to the Greek, he had no bad intentions, but rather wanted to goad his opponent into his semi-final duel with Casper Ruud - which Rublev was to lose without a murmur. At least that's the idiosyncratic justification of the 24-year-old.
"I saw it from a different perspective: I wanted him to be angry in his next game (against Casper Ruud) and try to play even better," said Tsitsipas. "I won't explain why because I think it's pretty obvious what kind of situation I would have faced in the next game if (I) had played against these opponents." He wanted to push the Russians, but this shot backfired.
Tsitsipas apologizes
However, the idiosyncratic support for Rublev was not entirely unselfish, after all the Russian also played for Tsitsipas in the world rankings: "I think he didn't play as well as I would have expected from him. That was my only opportunity to be among the first three (note in the world rankings) if he had won this game," said the Greek. "I regret saying that, yes. I was extremely hurt that I wasn't able to go all the way at the ATP Finals. I tried to let out some bad energy but it wasn't the one responsible or good way, it wasn't the right way."
In any case, the next time he sees the Russians, Tsitsipas wants to apologize for what he said - after all, it doesn't match the picture that Tsitsipas has of Rublev at all: "I don't think his game is restricted, I think , he's proven over many years on the tour that he's capable of competing against the best. He's one of the most disciplined guys out here who is very professional about his work."