Stefanos Tsitsipas in the eye of illegal coaching controversy

Stefanos Tsitsipas received code violation for illegal coaching during his Australian Open semifinal clash against Daniil Medvedev

0
3825
Stefanos Tsitsipas suffers shock defeat at US Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas was once again in the eye of an illegal coaching controversy on Friday.

The Greek was given a code violation for on-court coaching in the fourth set during his 6-7 (5), 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 loss to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal of the Australian Open.

ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal closes in on Grand Slam history

“I’m used to it,” said Tsitsipas, whose father Apostolos Tsitsipas has been regularly seen talking during matches.

“They’ve been targeting me already a long time. I feel like I’ve gotten a few in the past, and the umpires are always paying attention to my box, never paying attention to the opponent’s box.

Sharpen your forehand with our FREE guide

“I feel I have been a victim of that for a long time now.”

Medvedev had an altercation with the umpire in the second set. The Russian accused Tsitsipas’ father of trying to pass on instructions to his son.

A fuming Medvedev demanded the chair umpire do something about it.

ALSO READ: Showman Nick Kyrgios tells umpire to control the crowd

Later in the match, the tournament referee along with Greek-speaking umpire Eva Azderaki-Moore were seen sitting below Tsitsipas’ player box. They signaled to the chair umpire immediately after catching Apostolos coaching from the stands.

The Greek player, however, insisted that he always prefers finding solutions on the court himself instead of listening to his coach’s advice.

“I mean, what can I say?” he asked.

ALSO READ: Denis Shapovalov calls umpire Carlos Bernandes ‘corrupt’

“The referees, I don’t think they will ever understand that I cannot hear anything when I’m playing because I’m trying to find solutions and try and read the game and recreate the game in my mind before the point starts.

“Last thing I want is someone giving me tips and giving me advice on what I should do.

ALSO READ: Daniil Medvedev mantra: ‘What would Novak do?’

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to keep receiving coaching violations, even though I will never listen to any single thing he says.

“But it’s fine, they can do that if they want, if they believe it’s right.”

LEAVE A REPLY