Alexander Zverev defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) in a tough semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. During the match, Zverev accused Tsitsipas of getting coaching via text from his dad while Tsitsipas was on a bathroom break.
Tsitsipas took an eight-minute bathroom break at the end of the first set. Tsitsipas took his bag with him to the bathroom. Zverev was not impressed.
He took his bag with his phone and everything in it. This was the same thing in Paris and is going to be the same thing every other tournament he’s playing.
– Alexander Zverev to chair umpire Adel Nour
Upon returning from a bathroom break, Tsitsipas changed his tactics. He served and volleyed a lot in the second set – something he didn’t do in the first set.
Tsitsipas has a long history of getting coaching from his dad during matches. In this case, Zverev is insinuating that Tsitsipas and his dad are texting during a bathroom break. In a coincidence, Apostolos Tsitsipas was seen texting when Stefanos was in the bathroom.
Neither player addressed the issue during their post-match press conference. Zverev went on to win the title beating Andrey Rublev in the final.