Breaking news: Stefanos Tsitsipas admits Nick Kyrgios ‘turned me into a madman’ in their infamous Wimbledon showdown
Stefanos Tsitsipas has made a startling admission about the psychological toll of his fiery rivalry with Nick Kyrgios, conceding that the Australian star “turned me into a madman” during their notorious Wimbledon clash in 2022. In a candid interview ahead of the upcoming hard-court swing, Tsitsipas revisited one of the most talked-about matches of his career, offering rare insight into how deeply it affected him.
The pair’s third-round showdown at Wimbledon two years ago was a chaotic affair that captivated the tennis world. Kyrgios prevailed in four sets, but the scoreline was almost secondary to the drama that unfolded on Court 1. Tsitsipas repeatedly targeted Kyrgios with shots blasted directly at him, earned a point penalty for smacking a ball into the stands, and was later fined for his conduct. Kyrgios, for his part, taunted Tsitsipas throughout, calling him “soft” and urging officials to default him.
Now, Tsitsipas has opened up about how Kyrgios’ antics got under his skin like never before. “He managed to bring something out of me that was not there before,” Tsitsipas said. “I am very competitive, yes, but that day he turned me into a madman. I was out of control. I did things I regret. It was like he was manipulating the entire match — the crowd, the atmosphere, even me.”
The Greek star admitted that Kyrgios’ tactics — both psychological and physical — rattled him completely. “It’s not easy playing against Nick. He has this aura of unpredictability, he can hit unbelievable shots, but more than that, he knows how to mess with your head,” Tsitsipas continued. “That day, I lost my focus. I stopped thinking about tennis and started thinking about him. And that was my biggest mistake.”
The match became an instant classic for its sheer volatility, but it also sparked a heated debate about sportsmanship. Tsitsipas called Kyrgios a “bully” afterward, while Kyrgios fired back saying Tsitsipas was “soft” and unable to handle the heat. Their feud spilled into press conferences, social media, and nearly overshadowed the rest of the tournament.
Two years on, Tsitsipas says he’s grown from the ordeal. “Looking back, I needed that match. It taught me how fragile the mind can be if you let someone else take control. Since then, I’ve worked a lot on my mental strength. I don’t think something like that could happen to me again.”
Kyrgios, who has been sidelined by injury for much of the past year, caught wind of Tsitsipas’ comments and responded in typical fashion on social media. Posting a laughing emoji on X (formerly Twitter), Kyrgios simply wrote: “Living rent free 😂.”
Fans, meanwhile, are hoping for a rematch on the hard courts of North America this summer, eager to see if the two can keep things civil — or if the fireworks will once again ignite. Either way, Tsitsipas’ frank admission adds another intriguing layer to one of tennis’ most combustible rivalries.
Stay tuned for more updates as both players gear up f
or the US Open series.
