Stefanos Tsitsipas - frustration and an unsightly habit
Stefanos Tsitsipas hasn't really got going for weeks. The frustration with the mediocre performance can be seen in the Greeks. Most negative outgrowth: a seemingly new habit of the fifth in the world rankings.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Aug 13, 2022, 10:00 am
This is definitely not how Stefanos Tsitsipas imagined the last few weeks. Above all, not after the Greek had started the European clay court season brilliantly by winning the ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo. The ambitions for the following weeks, they were high for the 24-year-old Greek because of the final at the French Open 2021.
Now, several weeks later, the balance sheet is poor. Bitter end after mediocre performances at the French Open against youngster Holger Rune, inexplicable mental abysses that opened up in the third round against Nick Kyrgios in Wimbledon - and a completely messed up start to North American hardcourt swing after a defeat at the start against British Jack Draper.
Tsitsipas throws away the nerves
Yes, Stefanos Tsitsipas hasn't really wanted to come together in the last few weeks - and that's noticeable in the Greek. The positive fire only burns on the back burner, and Tsitsipas keeps complaining about circumstances on and off the court - and only upsets himself. Best example: the crazy drama in Wimbledon against the Australian Kyrgios.
Exactly in that match you saw Tsitsipas pull out a register that is particularly frowned upon in tennis: namely to aim directly at the man. And that too in situations in which the ball on the body is by far the worst tactically of all decisions. A rogue who thinks evil. Especially since the Greek dedicated a significant part of the press conference after his departure to what he considered to be unacceptable behavior on the part of Kyrgios.
Now the match against Nick Kyrgios - who is anything but a blank slate when it comes to dubious behavior on the tennis court and who also mentally worked on the Greek for long stretches of the match - can be dismissed as a slip. What weighs more heavily: that forehand smash in Montreal in a duel with Jack Draper from Great Britain.
Dropouts against Draper
After an early break and a score of 3: 1, Tsitsipas managed to steer a strong serve from Tsitsipas in a high arc to the other side of the net in great distress, Tsitsipas decided to complete the overhead smash due on Draper, who was in nirvana. And to devour this one on top of that.
Moments like this show: Stefanos Tsitsipas is not completely himself these weeks. This is reflected in the results - and should not leave its mark on the self-confidence of the fifth in the world rankings. Accordingly, the ATP Masters 1000 event from Cincinnati, where Tsitsipas has 360 points to defend, is likely to be inconvenient for Tsitsipas. So it's high time to get back to sports.