‘This isn’t tennis’ – crowd split over fiery match between Kyrgios and Tsitsipas

The Wimbledon crowd has been split over whether they enjoyed a drama-filled match between two fiery players who picked up three code violations between them.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios was cautioned for swearing, while Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas breached the rules twice for smashing the ball away into the crowd.

Athens-born Tsitsipas slammed Kyrgios as “a bully” with “a very evil side” after the game.

The 23-year-old player told journalists: “He (Kyrgios) 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 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.”

When Tsitsipas’ comments were put to Kyrgios, he laughed, and said: “I’m not sure how I bullied him – he was the one hitting balls at me.”

The pair’s Court 1 spectators booed loudly in scenes expected of a football match, and those leaving described the game as everything from “embarrassing” to “absolutely incredible”.

Tennis coaches and brothers Alex and Will Page, both from Twickenham, said the players’ intense dislike for one another was clear from the side-lines.

Max said: “It was a fiery encounter.

“Kyrgios, he definitely battled, and he came through, clearly.

“He’s a really aggressive player which I think is really good.”

When asked what they thought of Tsitsipas striking the ball at spectators, Alex said: “Embarrassing.

“The code violation was absolutely necessary.

“You can’t be hitting the ball out of anger, especially at Wimbledon.”

Teacher Pippa Gribben, 51, and her daughter Evie Gribben, 18, both from Clevedon, North Somerset, said they loved the