There are only two things Stefanos Tsitsipas hates in this world: people who are intolerant of other people’s cultures, and the French.
That’s an Austin Powers reference, for those who missed it, but it does kind of tie into what we’re talking about here.
During his US Open first-round match against Russian Andrey Rublev, the eighth-seeded Greek was clearly unhappy with the treatment he received from the chair umpire, Frenchman Damien Dumusois.
Before we go to the video, here’s Deadspin to tee it up:
In the fourth set, Tsitsipas began to cramp, which caused long delays between points. This got him a time violation warning from the umpire. Though visibly hobbled, Tsitsipas hung in the match, shortening points with huge cuts, an impressive stretch of triage. During the changeover at 4-3, Tsitsipas wanted some time to change. Dumusois believed he had exceeded the time limit. That prompted this incredible meltdown from Stefanos.
There’s a Nick Kyrgios-style meltdown, where he calls the umpire a “f*cking tool”, for example, and then there’s a sweeping racist statement about someone’s nationality.
Observe:
“You have something against me. You’re French, probably. … You’re all weirdos.”
Things didn’t go to plan for No. 8 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the #USOpen
MORE: https://t.co/QQHPExZwHz pic.twitter.com/4VzjFEJkz0
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 27, 2019
The French might be a touch odd at times (and pretty terrible at staging photos), but calling them all “weirdos” is not a great look.
Tsitsipas then went on to lose the match 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-5.
We mentioned Kyrgios earlier, and here’s an interesting connection pointed out by Business Insider:
Kyrgios and Tsitsipas played in the doubles bracket together at the Citi Open in July, losing in the opening round to the number one seeded pairing Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.
Despite the loss, Kyrgios waxed lyrical over Tsitsipas, saying on News.com.au, “if he keeps his head down, he can do some special things.”
Kyrgios then said he’d look to avoid Tsitsipas unless they were playing doubles together, as he would likely only be a “bad influence” on the burgeoning 21-year-old.
Tsitsipas finished the exchange by saying, “don’t say that.”
It would appear that Kyrgios was onto something.
I wonder what kind of reception Tsitsipas will receive at next year’s French Open…
[sources:deadspin&businsider]
