Tension Erupts Between Tsitsipas and Fils at Italian Open

Intense Confrontation at the Italian Open

Tensions escalated during the Italian Open as Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas clashed with French player Arthur Fils after their round of 32 match on Sunday, May 11, in Rome.

Arthur Fils advanced to the fourth round by defeating World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Grand Stand Arena. After dropping the first set, Fils elevated his game, dominating the following two sets to secure his spot in the round of 16. This victory continues Fils' strong performance this ATP season, having reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, Miami Open, and Monte Carlo Masters, as well as the semifinals at the Barcelona Open.

The Heated Exchange

The audience at the Grand Stand Arena witnessed a heated moment between Tsitsipas and Fils during their post-match handshake. Following Fils' winning forehand, he appeared to blow a kiss towards Tsitsipas, which sparked a reaction from the Greek player.

As they met at the net for their customary handshake, Tsitsipas reportedly said something that provoked an immediate response from Fils. This led to a brief but intense verbal confrontation, prompting the chair umpire to step in and separate the two players to prevent the situation from escalating further.

The crowd reacted with jeers, but the tension eased when Fils placed his arm on Tsitsipas' shoulder, and the chair umpire commended both players for maintaining composure.

What Sparked the Confrontation?

The altercation appeared to be rooted in a body shot that Tsitsipas delivered earlier in the match, which Fils later mentioned motivated him to rally back in the subsequent sets.

This incident occurred during the first set when Tsitsipas hit a short ball that Fils returned. At the net, Tsitsipas struck a powerful shot aimed at Fils' body, who initially did not react but seemed visibly annoyed. Tsitsipas later gestured an apology, indicating that the shot was intentional.

Next Steps for Arthur Fils

Following his victory over Tsitsipas, Arthur Fils is set to face German tennis star and World No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the round of 16 on Tuesday, May 13.