WATCH: Tsitsipas And Fils Get Into Heated Argument After Rome Match, Umpire Intervenes
NewsSunday, 11 May 2025 at 21:31
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils' intriguing match at the 2025 Italian Open ended with the pair exchanging heated words, which made the umpire feel he needed to step in.
Fils was in trouble after losing the opening set 2-6. Tsitsipas' level on his best surface was superb, and a comeback from the Frenchman looked to be a distant possibility at that moment.
But Fils showed why he is one of the most talented young players in the world by rallying and beating the two-time Grand Slam runner-up 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 by digging in and gradually seizing the initiative away from Tsitsipas.
The 20-year-old's impressive comeback included a contentious moment in the second set. At 3-3, 30-15 on Tsitsipas' serve, the Greek No. 1 won the point by firing the ball at Fils' body when his younger opponent came to the net.
Although Tsitsipas apologized for hitting him, Fils did not see him do that and looked visibly angry as he walked back to the baseline afterward. The incident might have fueled him to play even better and win the match.
Tsitsipas hitting Fils and not having his apology acknowledged afterward caused friction at the net. When the pair shook hands, the former world No. 3 directed pointed words at Fils.
As seen in the video below, Fils did not allow Tsitsipas's words to go unanswered. He replied with passionate words of his own, and the conversation became more heated and lasted for nearly a minute.
The exchange became more intense, and the two waving their hands led to the umpire, Greg Allensworth, coming down from his chair and standing near both men in case the situation escalated any further.
Thankfully, the situation did not become physical, and Allensworth stood and allowed Fils and Tsitsipas to continue their discussion until it eventually ended with the Greek walking away first.
Fils was asked about what happened afterward. The 2024 Hamburg Open champion insisted he bore no resentment towards Tsitsipas, and he knows that aiming an opponent's body at the net is part of the sport.
"All good. We were just talking about the match. No worries. He went for my body. It’s part of the game, there’s nothing wrong with it, but I tried to find a way to fight, so I found this kind of excuse to go and to fight."
"And okay, he told me at the end he was not going for my body and I told him, ‘I know it, I know it, it’s okay, it’s all good. I just needed to find a way to fight."
The young ATP star also said that, despite how heated the interaction looked, he told Tsitsipas he was playing incredibly in the opening set, and is thrilled to have mounted a comeback after falling behind.
"I told him at the net he was playing unbelievable in the first set. He was killing me with his forehand, his backhand, at the net. Serving very good. I could not do a lot of things but in the second set I started to find the rhythm and a way to fight and was happy to finish strong in the third."
Alexander Zverev's actions at the Italian Open also made headlines. The defending champion was furious after a reporter asked him a question he deemed disrespectful and stupid.
Popular News
Just In
