Bad blood in Bad Homburg as Sakkari Putintseva involved in testy exchange

Bad blood spilled over in Bad Homburg on Sunday when Greeces Maria Sakkari and Kazakhstans Yulia Putintseva were involved in a centre court confrontation after their first-round encounter.

Sakkari emerged with a 7-5 7-6(6) victory in the Wimbledon tune-up event in Germany but appeared less than pleased with Putintsevas handshake at the net.

When you shake hands with someone, look them in the eyes, Sakkari said in comments picked up by the court microphone.

Putintseva responded with an exaggerated curtsy, with Sakkari then telling the Kazakh: just be like a human being.

The duo continued to exchange barbs as Putintseva left for the changing rooms, and world number 85 Sakkari told an on-court interviewer there was no love lost between the pair.

I dont think shes going to invite me for dinner for the rest of our lives, but I dont care, Sakkari said.

I have very good friends and Ill go to dinner with them. Let me leave it here, and just say that I have respect for her as a player, but thats it.

Sakkari will next meet either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Belinda Bencic, as she continues her preparations for Wimbledon, which begins on June 30. REUTERS

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