Stefanos Tsitsipas

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas: 'I Want To Be The Surprise'

Spoiler:

Greek happy to lead FedEx ATP Race To Turin
Stefanos Tsitsipas may lead the FedEx ATP Race To Turin for a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in November, but he still wants to be the surprise of Roland Garros.

“Whenever I play, I want to be the surprise of the tournament,” said Tsitsipas on Friday. “That's what I like most about it.”

The 22-year-old Greek star went on to explain how he felt when he broke through the 2018 final at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto.

“When I played in Toronto, I really enjoyed that week and enjoyed that no one even considered me as the favourite, and it was a great week… I guess I surprised everyone. I just had to play my tennis and think about nothing else and just felt great overall.”

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Tsitsipas, who lost to Novak Djokovic in last year’s Roland Garros semi-finals, comes into the second Grand Slam championship of the year with a 33-8 match record, which includes two ATP Tour titles at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Rublev) and the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon (d. Norrie).

“Consistency has always been at the top of my priorities as a player, and it has been difficult to find that kind of secret recipe where you get all the consistency and you can play consistently week by week,” said Tsitsipas, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals (l. to Medvedev) in February. “But I think it's something you build up with confidence, with experience, and eventually you just find the pattern. You find the way it works for you.

“It has been in certain cases this year. I'm quite happy with the way I'm progressing, the way I'm generating points, the way I'm able to face the guys at the top of the [FedEx ATP] Rankings. And so far I'm at the top of the [FedEx ATP] Race to Turin. [It] feels great to be there and I wish for plenty more to come.”

Tsitsipas, who will play France's Jeremy Chardy in the Roland Garros first round, leads Djokovic (2,920 points) by 440 points in the 2021 year-to-date standings for a place at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

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[Art]

[Bombardiero]

Tsitsipas In Form: The Big Three take many of the headlines, but Tsitsipas arrives in Paris as the leader of the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. The Greek star captured his first Masters 1000 crown at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, and he added another trophy in Lyon. At the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, the 22-year-old held championship point against Nadal before the Spaniard rallied for the win. Tsitsipas will have good memories from his efforts in Paris last year, when he pushed Djokovic to five sets in a memorable semi-final thriller. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion also lost a heart-breaking five-setter in 2019 against 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.

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[Damian]

[Art]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas Overcomes Chardy Challenge In Roland Garros Opener

Spoiler:

Greek to next face Korda or Martinez
On an opening day full of surprises and marathons, it was business as usual for fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas as he took down Jeremy Chardy in straight sets to reach the second round at Roland Garros.

Fifth seed Tsitsipas, who reached the semi-finals here last year, has been in red-hot form throughout the clay-court season. He’s gone from strength to strength after winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, reaching the final in Barcelona (l. Nadal) and claiming his eighth ATP Tour title in Lyon.

Tsitsipas, the FedEx ATP Race to Turin leader, saved four of the five break points he faced en route to a 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-1 win over Chardy on Sunday, his 17th clay-court victory of the season.

You May Also Like: Tsitsipas: 'I Want To Be The Surprise'
The Greek raised his level after facing a set point during the closely contested opening set. Playing against Chardy on Court Philippe Chatrier – but without a crowd of French supporters due to Paris’ 9 pm curfew – Tsitsipas took control with an early break at 1-1.

His serve bailed him out of trouble when Chardy worked his way back into the set. Chardy levelled the score at 3-3 and pushed Tsitsipas to set point at 5-4. But the Greek fired a big unreturned first serve to get back to deuce, and closed out the game after punishing a short return with a blistering forehand winner. From 1/4 down in the tie-break, Tsitsipas won five of the next six points to retake the lead and close out the 58-minute opening set.

After the first set, Tsitsipas raised his level and never looked back. The Greek did not face a break point across the final two sets, and broke serve four more times en route to victory. Tsitsipas fired 31 winners in the match and kept his unforced error differential positive with 25, outpacing Chardy’s 25 winners and 35 unforced errors.

With his ATP Tour-leading 34th win of the season, Tsitsipas booked a spot into the second round for the fourth year in a row. He awaits the winner of #NextGenATP American Sebastian Korda, who lifted his first ATP Tour title in Parma on Saturday, and Pedro Martinez, ranked No. 103 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com

In the same quarter of the draw, 22nd seed Cristian Garin battled past Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-2 after three hours and nine minutes. The Chilean is into the second round on the Parisian clay for the third straight year.

Garin has proven himself a clay-court stalwart. The 2013 Roland Garros boys’ singles champion has won all five of his ATP Tour titles on the surface, and he will next play American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald, who eliminated Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3.

In the same section of the draw, 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov had to retire in the fourth set of his match due to a back injury. The Bulgarian led Marcos Giron 6-2, 6-4, 5-1 0/40, but the American rallied to win the set, and Dimitrov retired at 0-3 in the fourth.

Giron will challenge Guido Pella for a spot in the third round after the Argentine lefty defeated Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-5.

Did You Know?
At 22 years 305 days, Tsitsipas is bidding to become the youngest Grand Slam men’s singles champion since Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open aged 20 years 355 days.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... 021-sunday

[Bombardiero]

[Art]

[Art]

[Bombardiero]

[Lucas]

[Nando]

[Nando]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas Moves Into Roland Garros Third Round

Spoiler:

The Greek takes on Isner in the third round
Though forced to work hard for it, Stefanos Tsitsipas flew into the third round of Roland Garros following a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 win over Pedro Martinez on Wednesday inside Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

“I really like playing in Paris,” Tsitsipas said on court. “I feel like the fans have embraced me and made me one of them. So, I’m really glad my tennis is there, my performance is there, and I’m able to deliver not just good tennis but also create a good atmosphere on this court.”

Tsitsipas, the fifth seed, has yet to lose a set after beating Jeremy Chardy in the first round in straight sets. He takes on John Isner in the third round after the American eased past Filip Krajinovic. Tsitsipas leads their ATP Head2Head series 3-2, most recently beating Isner in Acapulco this year. They have never faced off on clay.

You May Also Like: Preview: Can Medvedev, Tsitsipas & Zverev Capitalise In Paris?
Tsitsipas, the leader of the FedEx ATP Race to Turin, improved to a Tour-leading 34 wins on the season. The 22-year-old Greek is having quite the clay-court season with his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo and a second title in Lyon just before heading into Roland Garros.

“I’ve had good weeks this year, I’ve had some good results, but, of course, I feel like there’s always better,” Tsitsipas said. “I don’t see my performance so far as super excellent and outstanding, but I’ve been consistent and that’s very important to maintain that [Race] lead that I’m looking for.”

Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com

Making his fifth Roland Garros appearance, Tsitsipas is looking to go even farther than last year when he reached the semi-finals (l. to Djokovic). The run matched his best Grand Slam performance, having reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open twice.

The second-round contest with Martinez was no walk in the park. Tsitsipas was broken early in the first and second sets, having to step up his game to take control each time. The third set was all Tsitsipas, though the Spaniard didn’t give up without a fight. Martinez broke Tsitsipas when he was serving for the match at 5-2. Tsitsipas responded with a backhand winner to break Martinez and close out the victory.

Martinez was playing in just his third Roland Garros, having reached the third round last year. The 24-year-old, currently ranked No. 103, has been as high as No. 82 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. His best runs this season have been Round of 16 appearances in Estoril and Parma.

In the same section of the draw, 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta rallied past home favourite Enzo Couacaud 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniard needed two hours and 28 minutes to reach the third round at Roland Garros for the fifth consecutive year.

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[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas Topples Isner In Four Sets To Reach Second Week In Paris

Spoiler:

Greek earns 36th match win on the season
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas stood tall after dropping the opening set to John Isner, rallying for a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-1 victory on Friday night to book a place in the fourth round at Roland Garros.

The Greek player was tested by the 6’10” American across four sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier, but he emerged victorious after two hours and 38 minutes to claim a tour-leading 36th win on the season. Tsitsipas, who reached the semi-finals here last year, also added a 19th clay-court victory to his 2021 count – the joint-most among all players, alongside Federico Delbonis.

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After claiming his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Rublev), Tsitsipas has continued to tear through draws in the clay-court season. The FedEx ATP Race To Turin leader lifted another trophy in Lyon and held match point against Rafael Nadal in the final of the ATP 500 event in Barcelona.

By contrast, 31st seed Isner arrived in Paris after playing only one tournament on clay courts – but he made his mark at the Mutua Madrid Open with victories over Roberto Bautista Agut and Andrey Rublev on his way to the quarter-finals.

Into the fourth round for the third year in a row, Tsitsipas will face 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in the quarter-finals. The Spaniard comfortably overcame Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Court Simonne-Mathieu earlier in the day.

Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com

The big-hitting American had Tsitsipas under pressure from the start as Isner raced through his service games. Isner dropped only five points across six service games, winning three of those games to love.

The Greek player faced break points in his opening service game, and it was an uphill battle from there when the American took his opportunities at 5-5. Dictating play with his forehand and successful forays to the net, Isner broke late in the set after earning a backhand error from Tsitsipas before sealing the set with an ace.

But the American’s first-serve percentage began to dip in the second set, giving Tsitsipas more looks at the big-server’s second delivery. After failing to convert on three break points after taking a 40/0 lead against Isner’s serve at 2-1, Tsitsipas found himself in danger a few games later. Tsitsipas, who has done well to keep his emotions in check all season long, got himself fired up at 3-3 as he saved a break point. That seemed to galvanise the Greek, who earned his first break on the Isner serve in the next game before closing out the set.


The fifth seed edged through in a tie-break to win a tightly contested third set. With both players serving at a high level – Tsitsipas won 95 per cent of points (20/21) behind his first serve, Isner won 92 per cent (22/24) – there were no break points on offer as they went into a decider. Tsitsipas went after his returns, and earned the decisive mini-break after a missed drop shot from Isner at 6/3 to take the set.

With Isner looking deflated after failing to take the third set, Tsitsipas raced through the fourth with two more breaks of serve. The Greek player closed out the match with 40 winners and 19 unforced errors, to Isner's 52 and 29, respectively.

Did You Know?
At 22 years 305 days, Stefanos Tsitsipas is bidding to become the youngest Grand Slam men’s singles champion since Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open aged 20 years 355 days.

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[Bombardiero]