ATP Masters Toronto: Stefanos Tsitsipas - Lessons from defeat
Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a bitter semi-final defeat in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto. A defeat in which the Greek, however, also sees some lessons.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Aug 16, 2021, 09:42 am
There were few chances that Stefanos Tsitsipas had found when Reilly Opelka served in this semi-final. However, if the Greek was able to put the giant from the USA under a bit of pressure, the world number three acted a little too passively at these moments, trying his luck primarily by keeping the ball in play. And to hope for Opelka's mistake.
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A tactic that shouldn't bear fruit in the end. Tsitsipas lost the chance to increase the pressure on server Reilly Opelka a little later in the tiebreak of the second set with a double mistake, rather the Greek gave up both points with a score of 4: 5 from his point of view with his own service. The logical consequence: Opelka succeeded in adjusting sentences.
Learning from defeat
So it was nuances that tipped the scales in favor of the giant in the game against a consistently outstanding serving Reilly Opelka. "Before the start of the game I knew it wasn't going to be easy. We all know Opelka and his style of play," said the 23-year-old. It was a very close affair that was decided by "small details" in favor of the American.
"Of course I'm disappointed, but I will learn from this defeat for the future," emphasized Tsitsipas, for whom it was anything but easy to play against Opelka players. "Even anticipating it makes it very complicated, especially since I usually try to return the serve with my one-handed backhand in my style of play," explained the world number three. He should also have been more active in the crucial moments, shouldn't have let Opelka force his game on him at these moments, the Greek emphasized.
Focus on the upcoming tasks
But it is precisely his one-handed backhand that can easily be understood as the 23-year-old's house ball. "My one-handed backhand has been my trademark since I started playing tennis. It's a stroke that I have a lot of confidence in and with which I have won many games in the past," said Tsitsipas. There is hardly a victory in which he cannot rely on this blow.
Now it is up to him to check off this defeat as quickly as possible - and to focus on the tasks ahead. Tsitsipas will attack the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati next week, and the last Grand Slam of the year will follow in New York City a few days later. There, at the latest, the lessons of Saturday's defeat should be drawn.