Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas involved in awkward interview with Jim Courier

On the court Stefanos Tsitsipas couldn’t have been more impressive in his opening round win over Gilles Simon. But that wasn’t the case off it.

Canada's Denis Shapovalov reacts as he plays against Italy's Jannik Sinner during their men's singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 8, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

On the court Stefanos Tsitsipas couldn’t have been more impressive in his opening round win over Gilles Simon.

However, things took an awkward turn during the post-match interview, which is an early favourite to be the strangest of the tournament.

Asked about his performance by commentator Jim Courier, Tsitsipas wasn’t short on positivity.

Courier began, “Stefanos, Gilles Simon has been around in the top hundred for 15 years. He’s been as high as six in the world, a high quality difficult opponent to play and yet you dominated the scoreboard tonight. Were you surprised at the scoreline?

Well... That was random. 😂😂😂

Have a listen to one of the strangest post-match interviews with @steftsitsipas. 🇬🇷

WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/TYsz5RZN3Z #9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/i3H5Q2Tnoq

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 9, 2021

To which Tsitsipas replied, “I don’t know. Well, I don’t know what to say. I obviously wasn’t expecting it to come so easy. It was a great match from my side.”

The crowd reacted mostly with laughs, leaving the Greek star wondering what he had done wrong.  

“Oh my god, I feel like I messed it up already. I think I played a great, spectacular match from the beginning until the end.”

That led to more laughs, to which he finally said to the crowd, “What am I doing here?”

“I don’t know what his (Simon’s) tactic was. I can just leave if you want me to? That was the last thing I was expecting. To play at Rod Laver and everyone laughing at me.”

Even Courier weighed in on the uneasy interview.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was a big winner on Tuesday. Picture: AFP Photo

“You’re looking comfortable for sure out here. Except for this interview. It is really awkward.”

Tsitsipas will take on Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis in his second round match. He didn’t do a great job of winning the crowd back when asked about the clash.

“I know Thanasi for a long time. We’ve practised a couple of times. He’s a nice guy. But that won’t really matter on the court.”

Even Courier had given up trying to help by this stage.  

“You just keep digging a hole my man. You just keep digging.”

Originally published as Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas involved in awkward interview with Jim Courier

Updates