Wimbledon: Nick Kyrgios lashes ‘dumb’ umpire in ugly match

Stefanos Tsitsipas has attacked Nick Kyrgios’ behaviour on court, after his rival screamed at his support team and argued with the umpire.

Nick Kyrgios celebrates winning against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece. Picture; Getty Images.

Nick Kyrgios has been labelled a “bully” and “evil” after roaring into the fourth round of Wimbledon in a high intensity but ugly four set match against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The three hour match oozed animosity and drama, where Kyrgios baited and belittled Tsitsipas, screamed at his support team and argued with the umpire before triumphing 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.

The match was even more bad tempered than Kyrgios’ first round clash that resulted in a US$10,000 fine for spitting towards a spectator but the crowd was electrified by the tension.

Kyrgios said after the match that “the media loves to write I am bad for the sport, but clearly not”.

Nick Kyrgios argues with the umpire during the match. Picture: Getty Images.

In the post match press conferences the bad blood continued, particularly in relation to Kyrgios’ sarcastically congratulating Tsitsipas when he mishit one ball and the tepid handshake at the net at the conclusion of the match.

Tsitsipas said: “It’s constant bullying, that’s what he does. He bullies the opponents. He was probably a bully at school himself. I don’t like bullies. I don’t like people that put other people down. He has some good traits in his character, as well. But when he - he also has a very evil side to him, which if it’s exposed, it can really do a lot of harm and bad to the people around him.”

Nick Kyrgios demanded the referee be brought onto the court. Picture: Getty Images.

He said he’d like other players to come together and put a rule in place to stop the backchat because Kyrgios “keeps getting away with it”.

“Every single point that I played today I feel like there was something going on on the other side of the net,’’ he said, describing how Kyrgios can’t play without creating a ‘’circus”.

Kyrgios wasn’t impressed with the remarks, saying that Tsitsipas should concentrate on ways to try and beat him.

“Maybe he should figure out how to beat me a couple more times first and then get to that (complaining),’’ said Kyrgios. Kyrgios also noted:” I’m good in the locker room. I’ve got many friends, just to let you know. I’m actually one of the most liked. I’m set. He’s not liked. Let’s just put that there.

However match officials are set to review the match for code violations after Kyrgios:

• Demanded that the tournament referee be brought onto the court, refusing to continue play until his opponent was defaulted for smashing a ball towards a spectator.

• Argued that Tsitsipas, 23, was getting favourable treatment because the female spectator who avoided the ball was not a young girl and didn’t cry.

• Ripped into the umpire telling him he was “dumb” and “a disgrace” and that “the amount of shit the tournament will get after this press conference is insane … people want to see me, not you’’.

• Served a tweener: an underarm serve between his legs, and won the point.

• Was twice reported by lines officials for swearing

• Complained there were no towels or bananas on the players’ chairs.

Nick Kyrgios signs autographs as he leaves the Centre Court after beating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas. Picture; AFP.

Meanwhile Tsitsipas was so frustrated at the melodrodrama on the court, he lost a point for smashing a ball into the scoreboard and fired several body shots at Kyrgios. Later he apologised.

“I have to say it was really bad from my side,”Tsitsipas said.

“ I have never done that before, throwing the ball outside the court in that way. I did apologise to the people. I don’t know what went through my head at that time.”

Tsitsipas also admitted to aiming returns at Kyrgios. One time he was issued with a code violation because he mishit the ball so badly, but he later said “I was aiming for the body of my opponent but I missed by a lot, by a lot.”

He added he aimed at Kyrgios to “just to (make him) stop. This needs to stop. It’s not okay. Like, someone needs to sit down with him and talk, like, or -- I don’t, like, I don’t know what to say. There is frustration behind that, for sure.

“I’m not used to play this way. But I cannot just sit there, act like a robot and act like someone that is completely cold and ignorant.”

But while Tsitsipas was able to reflect upon his actions, Kyrgios couldn’t find any fault with his own behaviour.

“I’m not sure how I bullied him,’’ said Kyrgios.

“ He was the one hitting balls at me, he was the one that hit a spectator, he was the one that smacked it out of the stadium.I didn’t do anything. I was actually like -- apart from me just going back and forth to the umpire for a bit, I did nothing towards Stefanos today that was disrespectful, I don’t think. I was not drilling him with balls.”

When put to him that he verbally abused officials, Kyrgios shrugged it off. “I’ll get fined for that. Why would I need to apologise? I’m getting fined for it. Because I got -- I always get fined. I’m very keen to see what he will get after today.”

Kyrgios criticised Tsitsipas’s handshake, saying “I have never given a handshake like that in my life”.

Tsitsipas, the number four seed, then quickly left the court, while Kyrgios celebrated.

“Honestly, it was an amazing effort, “ Kyrgios said of his own performance, that will see him now play American Brandon Nakashima. If he wins that match, the stage may be set for an Australian quarter-final, with a possible contest against Alex de Minaur.