What promised to be an interesting duel in the initial rounds of the prestigious Roland Garros tournament ended up becoming one of the most controversial and viral moments of the tennis circuit this year. The young Italian tennis player Giulio Zeppieri, known for his talent, but also for his impulsive character, launched an unexpected criticism of eight words directed no less than Carlos Alcaraz and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, hours before his confrontation on the court.
At a time captured by a microphone during training prior to the party, Zeppieri, visibly annoying, murmured the following:
“They think they already won without playing.”
Although it seemed like a casual comment, those eight words quickly reached the ears of Carlos Alcaraz and his team. According to witnesses, the murmur originated after a conversation that Zeppieri had with his physical trainer, where he apparently questioned what he described as “an arrogant attitude” by the Spanish team during the court raffle.
Zeppieri, often considered the “Junior of the sinner” (in allusion to his proximity to Jannik Sinner and his similar style of play), did not expect his comment to transcend beyond the locker room. But in Roland Garros, the walls have ears, and even more so when it comes to figures such as Alcaraz and Ferrero.
Carlos Alcaraz, far from avoiding the issue, decided to respond publicly at the press conference prior to the meeting. In a firm but serene tone, he said:
“We do not despise anyone. If someone feels intimidated by our preparation or concentration, that speaks more about them than of us.”
The young Murcian also took the opportunity to praise Zeppieri as rival, but made it clear that he would not tolerate lack of respect:
“Juan Carlos and I have worked very hard to get where we are. If someone believes that is arrogance, it is because the sacrifice that this implies has never lived.”
The press room exploded in Murmullos, and social networks began to burn. The #Teamalcaraz and #ZepPieri labels became a trend in a matter of hours.
A few hours later, Giulio Zeppieri himself posted on his social networks a brief but forceful message:
“If I offended, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention. Carlos is a great player.”
However, his message did not seem to convince everyone. Many fans accused him of lack of humility, while others defended him for “saying what many think but do not dare.”
The curious thing is that, after the exchange of statements, the game on the Philippe Chatrier track was one of the most intense and exciting tournament so far. Alcaraz won four sets, but Zeppieri showed a competitive level that left many.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, former world number one and mentor of Alcaraz, also briefly commented on the controversy:
“In this sport, words come and go. What really counts is what you do on the court. Giulio has talent, but he must learn that the attitude is also part of the game.”
These statements were seen by some as a “class lesson” by the veteran coach, while others believe that the Alcaraz team wanted to close the chapter with elegance without making more wood to the fire.
While Carlos Alcaraz has developed a friendly rivalry with Jannik Sinner, some already speculate that Giulio Zeppieri could be the next one to join that list. Although he still has a way to go, this episode has put Italian in the media radar more than he would have imagined.
For now, the young Spaniard continues his way in Roland Garros with his sights on the title, while Zeppieri retires from the tournament with a valuable lesson not only in sports, but also in the diplomacy of professional tennis.
And perhaps, as many commented on networks:
“In Roland Garros you learn both with the racket and with the mouth.”
