“I Can Just Leave if You Want Me To”: Stefanos Tsitsipas Gives an Awkaward Interview at Australian Open 2021

2019 semifinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas powered into the second round of Australian Open 2021 after a comfortable 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Gilles Simon on Tuesday. Despite the victory, the main talking point was his post-match interview.

When asked whether he was surprised by the scoreline or not, Tsitsipas said, “I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting it to come so easy”. Following this, the crowd burst into peals of laughter as Tsitsipas sounded rude to the Frenchman.

Tsitsipas tried to clean up his mess but it was too late. He continued, “It was a great match from my side. Let’s be honest (crowd continues to mutter). Oh my God, I feel I messed it up already. I think I played a spectacular match from the beginning to the end (laughs from the crowd).

“This was the last thing I was expecting”: Stefanos Tsitsipas

“I don’t know what his tactics was (laughs from the crowd continued). I can just leave if you want me to. This was the last thing I was expecting, Rod Laver Arena, everyone laughing at me.

The interviewer, Jim Courier tried to save Tsitsipas by asking him about his game and tactics. Tsitsipas kept it short and answered: “I was surprised. I don’t want to add too much”.

The World No.6 will next face Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis, who breezed past Kwon Soon-woo 6-4 6-1 6-1 in the first round.

Talking about his next opponent who might be the crowd favorite, Tsitsipas said, “This is going to be … I don’t know. I’ve known him for a long time, we’ve practised a lot of times, he’s a really nice guy but that won’t really matter on the court [more laughter]. I saw his match before, it seems like he’s in good shape. His game is there. Obviously I’ll take him seriously, every match in a Grand Slam is really important. Every match I try to put the best version of myself, the best Stefanos, out on the court.”