Agent Patricio Apey wasn’t impressed by Alexander Zverev accusing Stefanos Tsitsipas of texting his father mid-match as he thought that Zverev tried to “set up” Tsitsipas and that it was a “b—- move” by his ex-client.
Things got heated between Zverev and Tsitsipas in last year’s Cincinnati Masters semifinal after the German felt the Greek left the court with his phone so he could text his father Apostolos, who serves as his coach.
“That was stupid. Also, unfortunately it was Zverev who tried to set the thing up and had the b—-iness that he said the father was texting him. Those accusations were a bit harsh. He got hit hard by Zverev, and Murray also later at the US Open.
And it wasn’t fair. Stef knows he didn’t cheat. He sweats a lot, and he changes his clothes from head to toe, socks, underpants. Now the rule is clear, and when he gets to the bathroom it’s 3 minutes. Things are more manageable,” Apey told CLAY.
Very nice interview with agent Patricio Apey: https://t.co/mVBAKqJc7D
Some strong quotes about the Zverev situation. pic.twitter.com/z8PY7X6Itm — José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 19, 2022
Apey not impressed by Zverev’s accusations on Tsitsipas
In the end, Zverev won the match in three sets.
Apey started working with Zverev when the German was a teenager. The two split a few years ago and they ended up in court. Apey now works with 2021 French Open finalist Tsitsipas. The cameras caught Apostolos holding his phone and Apey admitted his initial reaction wasn’t great to seeing that.
According to Apey, Tsitsipas reached out to the ATP board after the Cincinnati controversy as he wanted full clarity on the bathroom role rule. “I looked at that shot too and said f—. The father was talking to the mother and Stef didn’t bring his cell phone.
What people don’t know is that he himself wrote a letter to the ATP board to ask them to clarify the bathroom rule, because he felt responsible. So that the players, the television, sponsors, the public, could understand what the rule said, which was very open. Luckily it was corrected,” Apey added.
