Stefanos Tsitsipas: “Daniil Medvedev Wanted Me to Apologize”

Stefanos Tsitsipas registered his first victory against Daniil Medvedev 7-6(5), 6-4 in the first round-robin match of the Andre Agassi group at the ATP World Tour Finals 2019 on Monday.

When asked about why he doesn’t like Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas said in the post-match press conference at the ATP World Tour Finals 2019, “That’s a strong statement (smiling). I never said I don’t like Medvedev”

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have a complicated relationship right after their first encounter at the 2018 Miami Open, where both the players expressed frustration with each other after lengthy washroom breaks.

Daniil Medvedev had taken a toilet break at the end of set two followed  Stefanos Tsitsipas midway through the decider. The Russian also criticized the 21-year-old for not apologizing for the net cord after claiming a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Recalling their clash in Miami last year, the Greek gun revealed that he regrets his on-court dispute with Daniil Medvedev. However, Tsitsipas also claimed that his relationship with Russian is not the best but he does not hate him too.

“Medvedev wanted an apology for a net. I forgot about it. I was frustrated about my game. He kept on telling me I should have apologized. I regret what I said but at the time I was frustrated,” the world No.6 said. Our chemistry is not the best but it is not that I hate him,” said Tsitsipas.

The fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev entered the match with a 5-0 head-to-head record against Tsitsipas but the US Open 2019 runner-up couldn’t earn a single breakpoint at the O2 Arena in London on Monday.

Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed that Jeremy Chardy helped him to record his first victory against the 23-year-old and make a winning debut at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals. He said on Greek TV that Jeremy Chardy, who defeated Medvedev at the Rolex Paris Masters 2019, gave him some tips before the match.