Stefanos Tsitsipas rips Daniil Medvedev over 'shameful' meltdown
Stefanos Tsitsipas has labelled Daniil Medvedev "not the most mature person" after the Russian blew up at the chair umpire in their semi-final blockbuster at the Australian Open.
Medvedev launched a furious tirade at umpire Jaume Campistol on Friday night, accusing Tsitsipas of receiving mid-match coaching from father Apostolos.
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Medvedev was left seething that he'd received a code violation and wanted to know why the umpire wasn't cracking down on Tsitsipas' box.
"His father is allowed to talk every point?" Medvedev repeatedly asked Campistol.
“Are you stupid? His father can talk every point? Answer my question. Will you answer my question?
“Oh my god, you are so bad, man. How can you be so bad in a semi-final? Look at me. I’m talking to you!”.
Medvedev even labelled Campistol a "small cat", saying: "If you don't (issue a code violation) you are - how can I call it? - a small cat."
Reacting to Medvedev's blow-up in his post-match press conference, Tsitsipas took a swipe at his fierce rival.
“It’s funny. I don’t pay attention to the stuff,” the Greek star said.
“I know players like to do this stuff to throw you off mentally. It could be maybe a tactic.
"It’s all right. He’s not the most mature person anyways.”
Commentators and fans were also left gobsmacked by Medvedev's tirade, with some taking aim at the World No.2 on social media.
A) Medvedev outburst over the top and inappropriate.
B) Apostolos needs to stop coaching which is flat out cheating.
C) umpire should fix it.— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) January 28, 2022
I quite like Medvedev but this is shameful behaviour. Completely unacceptable #AusOpen https://t.co/ZjuC4z7ltK
— Andrew Gamble (@andrew_gamble) January 28, 2022
That should have been a clear point penalty for Medvedev for audible obscenity. Players cannot be allowed to have these kind of rants with chair umpires.
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) January 28, 2022
Medvedev went nuts🤦🏻♀️
He has the right to be furious at Tsitsipas father coaching his son from the stands but not in that way. That’s not how he should talk to the umpire.
“Are you stupid? Look at me I’m talking to you.” #AusOpen— Rayane Moussallem (@RioMoussallem) January 28, 2022
Medvedev is a disgrace! Abusing the umpire like that! Who does he think he is!! Can't stand him.
— Pam #labourvoter #GTTO (@eltham_girl) January 28, 2022
Example: Medvedev calling the chair umpire Stupid and a small cat! Then forcing the guy to shake his hand after he wins. Great athlete,but disgusting selfish behaviour. I hope Novak cuts him down soon!!
— Robert Ingles (@robert_ingles) January 28, 2022
Daniil Medvedev brushes off ugly incident with umpire
Speaking in his own press conference, Medvedev said he regrets the on-court outburst he knows could have cost him his shot at tennis history.
The tournament's pantomime villain added his best chapter yet on Friday night, before eventually beating World No.4 Tsitsipas 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4 6-1.
Medvedev, who won the crowd back with another cheeky on-court interview after his win, admitted in that moment he thought he'd made a huge mistake.
"I think we can say it was funny, but I was definitely out of my mind," he said.
"I was not controlling myself any more about anything, and that's actually why I'm really happy to win ... you lose your concentration a lot when you get in these heat of the moment things.
"I was like, 'oh, my God, I'm just completely losing the fibre of this match' ... I'm so happy that I managed to catch it really fast."
Medvedev talked down his accusations, admitting he was annoyed to lose his serve and that Tsitsipas wasn't "cheating".
The Russian can now become the first man in 55 years to win a second major title in the very next grand slam appearance after winning their first.
"He's like the perfect guy, you know," Medvedev said about facing Rafa Nadal.
"I'm actually really respectful to players who never, almost never, show their emotions because it's tough, it's tough.
"I can get really emotional. I have been working on it ... if we look back at myself five years ago when I started playing ... there was less attention on me, but I was just insanely crazy.
"So I do regret it 100 per cent, but again, in the heat of the moment, I just lost it."
with AAP
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