Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils were involved in a heated exchange following their Italian Open match in Rome, requiring the umpire to intervene.
The pair traded words during what began as a routine post-match handshake, with tensions flaring as fans in the SuperTennis Arena jeered and whistled.
Fils ultimately prevailed in the contest, coming from behind to defeat Tsitsipas 2-6 6-4 6-2.
The victory marked the 20-year-old Frenchman's fourth consecutive win against the 26-year-old Greek star, maintaining his perfect head-to-head record.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Arthur Fils were involved in a heated exchange
Sky Sports
Fils, seeded 13th in the tournament, took one hour and 53 minutes to complete his comeback after Tsitsipas had dominated the opening set.
The result sends Fils through to the fourth round of the Masters 1000 event in Rome.
The incident that sparked the tension occurred during the second set when Tsitsipas struck Fils with a body shot as the ball sat up for a drive volley close to the net.
Though part of normal tennis tactics, this moment became a turning point in the match.
Fils later admitted he used the body shot as motivation to mount his comeback against the 18th-seeded Tsitsipas.
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The tension boiled over at the net when what initially appeared to be an amicable handshake quickly escalated into an argument.
Umpire Greg Allensworth rushed down from his chair to intervene as Tsitsipas attempted to explain the body shot was accidental.
"It's not a problem but you touch me," Fils was heard responding as the crowd reacted with jeers.
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The exchange was described by Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend as "very, very unusual".
"I like him. He's a great guy. A great champion," Fils said of Tsitsipas in his post-match interview.
"It was a bit tight in the middle of the second set. He went for my body. It's part of the game. There's nothing wrong with it."
The Frenchman explained he simply needed motivation. "I tried to find a way to fight. I found this kind of excuse to go and to fight."
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"He went for my body. It's part of the game. Nothing wrong with it" 🗣️
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 11, 2025
Here's what happened between Arthur Fils and Stefanos Tsitsipas as they battled in Rome...#IBI25 pic.twitter.com/OOvsAwD7mW
Fils further clarified the exchange, saying: "Okay, he told me at the end he was not going for my body. And I told him, 'I know it, I know it, it's okay, it's all good. I just needed to find a way to fight'."
Commentators remained puzzled by the heated nature of the exchange. "Not quite sure that cleared up everything we needed to know," remarked Nick Lester on the world feed.
Fils will next face either second seed Alexander Zverev or qualifier Vilius Gaubas in the fourth round.
The winner of that match will secure a place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious Italian Open.
