Greek police arrest aunt of tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas after dog attack in Vari injures three

Morning attack in Vari and Voula

Two dogs described as wolfdogs escaped from a residential yard in the southern Athens suburb of Vari shortly after 07:00 on 17 September 2026. The animals roamed into neighbouring Voula, reaching the intersection of Ypatis and Pisteos streets where they confronted a cat. When a 76-year-old male pedestrian stepped in to protect the cat, one of the dogs bit him on the left hand. The injured man contacted a 67-year-old female relative for assistance, but the second animal attacked her upon her arrival at the scene, knocking her to the ground and biting her hand before a bystander intervened. A 57-year-old woman walking nearby was also attacked shortly afterward, sustaining bites to her left hand and thigh. Paramedics transported the 57-year-old to KAT Hospital, where physicians administered stitches, while the 76-year-old man sought treatment at the Voula Health Centre and a private clinic.

Arrest and legal proceedings

Hellenic Police officers arrived at the scene and placed a 61-year-old woman in custody after identifying her as the owner of one of the dogs. Police identified the arrested woman as the maternal aunt of tennis professional Stefanos Tsitsipas and the sister of his mother. Authorities opened a case file against her charging multiple counts of bodily harm caused by negligence. Investigators also launched a search under the flagrante delicto procedure for the tennis player's 62-year-old mother, who is registered as the owner of the second dog. Greek police noted that the mother may currently be outside the country. Municipal animal control officials were dispatched to secure the animals following the confrontations.

Family response and denial

Following reports across Greek news outlets linking the animals to the athlete's household, a legal representative acting for the Tsitsipas family issued a public statement. The formal response sought to dismiss claims that the dogs belonged to the player's immediate relatives. The statement was released through sports outlet tennisnews.gr to refute the identification provided by local police sources. The representative maintained that the individual detained by authorities bore no relation to the family.

Regarding the incident that occurred this morning in Vari, the owner of the dogs is Mrs. I. K. and is not a relative of the Tsitsipas family. She was arrested and is detained at the competent Police Department.

Prior incidents in Vouliagmeni

Police files record this incident as the third dog attack associated with the family property in three years. In 2023, a dog jumped the perimeter fence of a residence in Vouliagmeni and attacked a 13-year-old boy, leaving the teenager with bite wounds to his arms and legs that required hospital treatment. In May 2025, another dog bit a 71-year-old man on the thigh while he was walking in Vouliagmeni. The victim in that incident was transported to Asklipieio Voulas Hospital, where medical staff applied five stitches, and prosecutors subsequently opened a case against Tsitsipas's mother as the registered animal owner.