// UPDATED: Stefanos Tsitsipas has issued an emotional statement following claims his criticism of Nick Kyrgios in Netflix's Break Point held racist connotations. The Greek star told the program the Aussie brings an "uneducated approach" to playing tennis following the pair's heated showdown in the third round at Wimbledon last year. The two have had a chequered past, which was only exacerbated with the camera rolling at The All England Club. READ MORE: Aussie up-and-comer scores chart-busting century READ MORE: Hunt confirms Dragons meeting as Broncos quash rumours READ MORE: Joey shuts down 'disrespectful' Blues coaching calls Kyrgios won the match in four sets after Tsitsipas claimed he was being "bullied" and Kyrgios called for the world No.5 to be defaulted after he hit a ball into the crowd and appeared to hit someone. In the documentary series, Tsitsipas told producers Kyrgios' approach to the game lacked respect. "He's brought NBA basketball attitude to tennis. I'd describe it as an uneducated approach to playing tennis. Tennis is a gentleman's sport, it's all about respect," he said. "We're not playing basketball. He kept putting his towel in my box." Tsitsipas added: "There was zero respect coming out of my opponent that day (at Wimbledon). He kept pressing my buttons non-stop – and of course, I got annoyed. He just loves attention. And if he gets none of that, it is complete destruction. It was too much for me. All that anger built up so much." On Saturday, Tsitsipas released a lengthy statement to his Facebook page in which he claimed there had been an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that had "distorted" his comments. This came amid rising criticism his remarks fueled racist undertones. "I want to address a matter that has been weighing heavily on my heart; an unfortunate misunderstanding that has a distorted picture of my intentions," Tsitsipas wrote. "It has come to my attention that some individuals have misinterpreted my comments regarding Nick Kyrgios, labelling him as uneducated and accusing him of bringing a basketball mentality into tennis, insinuating racism where none exists. "Firstly, I want to emphasise that I harbour no prejudice towards anyone based on their background, ethnicity, or interests. "My previous remarks regarding Nick Kyrgios were not meant to undermine his intelligence or abilities. "Instead, I simply intended to express my perspective on certain aspects of his playing style, drawing comparisons to the passion and intensity often associated with basketball. "It was an attempt to highlight the dynamic and captivating nature of his approach to the game, not a criticism of his character or capabilities." Meaning to prove his stance against racism, Tsitsipas then described his personal experience of racism while growing up in Greece. "In 2010, as a white caucasian kid growing up in Greece, I found myself entangled in the clutches of the Greek economic crisis, a period that forever changed my perspective on the world and the resilience within myself," he wrote. "The economic turmoil that gripped my beloved country was accompanied by an insidious phenomenon, the one of nation-labelling. "People began to judge and categorise individuals based solely on their Greek nationality, ascribing blame and making sweeping generalisations about an entire population. "In the eyes of the world, we were reduced to mere stereotypes, shouldering the burden of a nation's struggles, regardless of our individual circumstances or contributions. "What truly scarred me, though, was the racism that emerged from this nation-labelling. "As a young person trying to make sense of the world and my place in it, I experienced first-hand the sting of prejudice and discrimination. "Suddenly, I became the target of hurtful words, exclusion, and judgment simply because of my Greek heritage. "The relationships I had cherished changed overnight, leaving me feeling isolated and disheartened. "As I confronted the harsh realities of racism, I vowed to rise above it, to prove that my worth and identity were not defined by the economic circumstances of my country. "I made a conscious choice to erase the lingering bitterness from those years and embrace the lessons they had taught me. "They taught me empathy, and how important it is to see beyond labels and understand the complex realities that shape individuals." Watch Wimbledon 2023 from July 3. Every match ad free and on demand. Centre court coverage in 4K UHD on Stan Sport Tsitsipas expressed remorsefulness for his comments towards Kyrgios and pledged to be more conscious of the impact of his words. "I deeply regret any hurt or offence my words may have caused," he wrote. "It is essential to remember that we all have different viewpoints and interpretations, and it is through open dialogue and understanding that we can bridge gaps and foster genuine connections. "Moving forward, I commit to being more mindful of my words and the impact they may have. "I firmly believe in promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity. It is my hope that we can engage in respectful conversations that allow for differing opinions while maintaining empathy and respect for one another. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify my stance and intentions. Your understanding and support mean a great deal to me. "Let us continue to cherish our shared love for sports, celebrating the beauty and passion they bring to our lives." Kyrgios is yet to respond to Tsitsipas' statement. After the Wimbledon clash, Kyrgios told reporters the match descended into a circus, apologising for "getting angry." "It was a great match to win but unfortunately it got turned into a silly circus show. I am very sorry that it escalated that way. I ended up getting angry," he said. He continued, "It was an insane match. The tennis world painted me as this crazy villain. But I love that. I thrive in those moments. I thrive in the chaos. I love to see when my opponent is more focused on me than the tennis." The pair had a chance to put their differences behind them in Saudi Arabia last year when they were teamed up to play doubles in an exhibition event. But that chance seemed to pass them by. For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here! UPDATED: Stefanos Tsitsipas has issued an emotional statement following claims his criticism of Nick Kyrgios in Netflix's Break Point held racist connotations. The Greek star told the program the Aussie brings an "uneducated approach" to playing tennis following the pair's heated showdown in the third round at Wimbledon last year. The two have had a chequered past, which was only exacerbated with the camera rolling at The All England Club. READ MORE: Aussie up-and-comer scores chart-busting century READ MORE: Hunt confirms Dragons meeting as Broncos quash rumours READ MORE: Joey shuts down 'disrespectful' Blues coaching calls Kyrgios won the match in four sets after Tsitsipas claimed he was being "bullied" and Kyrgios called for the world No.5 to be defaulted after he hit a ball into the crowd and appeared to hit someone. In the documentary series, Tsitsipas told producers Kyrgios' approach to the game lacked respect. "He's brought NBA basketball attitude to tennis. I'd describe it as an uneducated approach to playing tennis. Tennis is a gentleman's sport, it's all about respect," he said. "We're not playing basketball. He kept putting his towel in my box." Tsitsipas added: "There was zero respect coming out of my opponent that day (at Wimbledon). He kept pressing my buttons non-stop – and of course, I got annoyed. He just loves attention. And if he gets none of that, it is complete destruction. It was too much for me. All that anger built up so much." On Saturday, Tsitsipas released a lengthy statement to his Facebook page in which he claimed there had been an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that had "distorted" his comments. This came amid rising criticism his remarks fueled racist undertones. "I want to address a matter that has been weighing heavily on my heart; an unfortunate misunderstanding that has a distorted picture of my intentions," Tsitsipas wrote. "It has come to my attention that some individuals have misinterpreted my comments regarding Nick Kyrgios, labelling him as uneducated and accusing him of bringing a basketball mentality into tennis, insinuating racism where none exists. "Firstly, I want to emphasise that I harbour no prejudice towards anyone based on their background, ethnicity, or interests. "My previous remarks regarding Nick Kyrgios were not meant to undermine his intelligence or abilities. "Instead, I simply intended to express my perspective on certain aspects of his playing style, drawing comparisons to the passion and intensity often associated with basketball. "It was an attempt to highlight the dynamic and captivating nature of his approach to the game, not a criticism of his character or capabilities." Meaning to prove his stance against racism, Tsitsipas then described his personal experience of racism while growing up in Greece. "In 2010, as a white caucasian kid growing up in Greece, I found myself entangled in the clutches of the Greek economic crisis, a period that forever changed my perspective on the world and the resilience within myself," he wrote. "The economic turmoil that gripped my beloved country was accompanied by an insidious phenomenon, the one of nation-labelling. "People began to judge and categorise individuals based solely on their Greek nationality, ascribing blame and making sweeping generalisations about an entire population. "In the eyes of the world, we were reduced to mere stereotypes, shouldering the burden of a nation's struggles, regardless of our individual circumstances or contributions. "What truly scarred me, though, was the racism that emerged from this nation-labelling. "As a young person trying to make sense of the world and my place in it, I experienced first-hand the sting of prejudice and discrimination. "Suddenly, I became the target of hurtful words, exclusion, and judgment simply because of my Greek heritage. "The relationships I had cherished changed overnight, leaving me feeling isolated and disheartened. "As I confronted the harsh realities of racism, I vowed to rise above it, to prove that my worth and identity were not defined by the economic circumstances of my country. "I made a conscious choice to erase the lingering bitterness from those years and embrace the lessons they had taught me. "They taught me empathy, and how important it is to see beyond labels and understand the complex realities that shape individuals." Watch Wimbledon 2023 from July 3. Every match ad free and on demand. Centre court coverage in 4K UHD on Stan Sport Tsitsipas expressed remorsefulness for his comments towards Kyrgios and pledged to be more conscious of the impact of his words. "I deeply regret any hurt or offence my words may have caused," he wrote. "It is essential to remember that we all have different viewpoints and interpretations, and it is through open dialogue and understanding that we can bridge gaps and foster genuine connections. "Moving forward, I commit to being more mindful of my words and the impact they may have. "I firmly believe in promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity. It is my hope that we can engage in respectful conversations that allow for differing opinions while maintaining empathy and respect for one another. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clarify my stance and intentions. Your understanding and support mean a great deal to me. "Let us continue to cherish our shared love for sports, celebrating the beauty and passion they bring to our lives." Kyrgios is yet to respond to Tsitsipas' statement. After the Wimbledon clash, Kyrgios told reporters the match descended into a circus, apologising for "getting angry." "It was a great match to win but unfortunately it got turned into a silly circus show. I am very sorry that it escalated that way. I ended up getting angry," he said. He continued, "It was an insane match. The tennis world painted me as this crazy villain. But I love that. I thrive in those moments. I thrive in the chaos. I love to see when my opponent is more focused on me than the tennis." The pair had a chance to put their differences behind them in Saudi Arabia last year when they were teamed up to play doubles in an exhibition event. But that chance seemed to pass them by. For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here! https://ift.tt/fL5irnS //
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