Kyrgios defeated Tsitsipas in four sets – 6-7(2) 6-4 6-3 7-6(7) – in an action-packed, controversial match on Court One, but the pair continued the feud after the press conference.
Tsitsipas had been frustrated by Kyrgios’ ‘constant bullying’ from the other side of the net and tried to find his opponent with a shot during the fiery encounter.
Kyrgios, who was loud all the time, was warned by the referee for swearing and was furious when Tsitsipas wasn’t disqualified for kicking a ball into the crowd out of frustration.
“Yeah, it’s constant bullying, that’s what he does. He bullies opponents. He was probably a bully himself at school. I don’t like bullies,” Tsitsipas told reporters after the game.
“I don’t like people who put other people down. He also has some good qualities in his character. But he also has a very evil side to him that, if exposed, can do really, really bad damage to the people around him.”
Kyrgios, who has made headlines at Wimbledon with both his outbursts and daring shots, laughed at his opponent’s comments, calling them “soft”.
He had previously said he had great respect for the Greek when interviewed on the pitch immediately after the game.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure how I bullied him. He was the one who hit balls at me, he was the one who hit a spectator, he was the one who smashed him out of the stadium. ” Kyrgios told reporters after reaching the round of 16.
“I didn’t do anything disrespectful to Stefanos today. I didn’t drill him with balls. Walking in here and saying I bullied him is just soft. We are not cut from the same cloth. I compete against guys who are real competitors.
“I have a lot of friends in the locker room just to let you know. I’m actually one of the most popular. I am determined. He is not liked.
Tsitsipas later apologized for kicking a ball into the crowd and admitted trying to hit Kyrgios with a body shot.
“I’m not used to playing that way,” he said. “But I can’t just sit there and act like a robot and act like someone who’s completely cold and ignorant.
“Because you’re out there doing your job and there’s noise coming from across the square for no absolute reason.
“Every single point I played today, I feel like there’s something going on on the other side of the net.
“It’s his way of manipulating the opponent and making you kind of distracted. There is no other player who does that. I really hope that we players can all come up with something and make this a cleaner version of our sport, didn’t you accept, didn’t allow, didn’t tolerate that behavior.”
Kyrgios, who will face American Brandon Nakashima in the next round, said Tsitsipas should worry more about finding a way to beat him.
“I’d be pretty pissed if I lost to someone two weeks in a row. Maybe he should figure out how to beat me a few more times first,” the Australian added.