Stefanos Tsitsipas seemingly asks mother to leave stadium for speaking in Russian during Rome SF
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas was involved in a fresh controversy during the Italian Open semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev. The Greek was seen seemingly asking his mother to leave the stadium for speaking in Russian during the Italian Open semifinals.
Tsitsipas was up against Medvedev on Saturday, fighting for a place in the final of the Italian Open. In a match that was twice interrupted by rain, Medvedev beat the two-time Grand Slam finalist 7-5, 7-5 to reach his maiden Italian Open final.
The score was tied at 4-4 when rain first interrupted play. The match then resumed after almost three hours, only to be paused once again shortly thereafter. Eventually, Medvedev broke Tsitsipas at 5-5 and then served it out to take the first set 7-5.
After losing the first set to the Russian, Tsitsipas was heard talking animatedly to his box. Moments later, his mother Julia walked up a few stairs and sat on a different seat.
As per the commentator Nick Lester, Tsitsipas was furious at her for speaking in Russian and wanted her to leave the stadium.
"Tsitsipas I'm told was actually telling his mum not to talk in Russian at the sit-down so that Medvedev of course doesn't hear it," Nick Lester said on Prime Video. "I've also just been told that he has told his dad that mum needs to leave the stadium."
Tsitsipas' mother Julia Apostoli is a Moscow-born former professional tennis player who represented the Soviet Union and Greece. The 24-year-old's father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, is also a former tennis player and his current coach.
Stefanos Tsitsipas hit ball at his parents during ATP Finals loss against Andrey Rublev
In another controversial incident invloving the Greek and his parents, Stefanos Tsitsipas hit a ball towards his parents in frustration during the 2022 ATP Finals.
During a group stage match against Andrey Rublev, Tsitsipas was supposedly infuriated by his parents' constant chatter regarding the Greek's performance in the game. He eventually hit a tennis ball towards the box in an apparent bid to silence them.
Rublev rallied from a set down to defeat Tsitsipas 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in that match, ending the World No. 5's 2022 season. Tsitsipas lost two of his first three matches and was eliminated from the year-end championship at the league stage for the second year running.