Wimbledon warmup event turns sour as player tells opponent ‘nobody likes you’ in fiery exchange

24 Jun 2025 • 2:36 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Two rival tennis players clashed during a Wimbledon warmup, with winner Maria Sakkari telling Yulia Putintseva that “nobody likes her” in a heated row.

The pair faced off in the first round of the Bad Homburg Open in Germany on Sunday (22 June), with world No3 Sakkari winning 7-5 7-6.

Things soon turned sour between the two players during an end-of-match handshake, when Putintseva quickly took her hand away.

Sakari told her opponent to “treat her like a human being”.

The umpire tried to calm the pair down, but Sakari fired back, repeatedly saying: “Nobody likes you!” as Putintseva walked off the court.

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