US Open 2021: Tsitsipas is defeated by Alcaraz in five-movement thriller
Stefanos Tsitsipas lost in the third round of the US Open 2021 to Carlos Alcaraz 3: 6, 6: 4, 6: 7 (2), 6: 0 and 6: 7 (5). And against the audience.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 04, 2021, 01:08 am
By Jens Huiber from New York City
One can assume that the overwhelming majority of fans who watched the match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday did not even know the Spaniard from hearsay. After 14 minutes of playing time, however, the audience knew at the latest who they were dealing with: one of the rising stars of the tennis circus. Alcaraz was leading 4-0 at this point, Tsitsipas looked slightly shocked. He knows the qualities of Juan Carlos Ferrero's protégé, of course.
In such cases the people in the stands are actually happy to help out, but Stefanos Tsitsipas has to work for the love of the New Yorkers again. Even if the Greek is currently the sole scapegoat for a bad habit that is (still) covered by the rules. The seemingly endless toilet breaks are not an exclusive move by Tsitsipas, on Thursday, for example, Jenson Brooksby said goodbye to his court and opponent Taylor Fritz for more than twelve minutes. Several times by the way.
Alcaraz makes a comeback in the third set
Carlos Alcaraz has not yet become conspicuous in this regard, at least a broader public has not yet noticed. Obviously, on the other hand, the pace of the 18-year-old Spaniard, who in New York plays on hard court, in contrast to his approach on ashes, mainly with the forehand is much flatter. Tsitsipas came slowly into the match, but Alcaraz won the first set 6: 3, much to the audience's delight. Tsitsipas had twisted his foot slightly during a slide in the last game, he called the physio. Not to the audience's delight.
Alcaraz carried on lively and quickly led 3-0 in the second act. But now Stefanos Tsitsipas was finally there, played five games in a row and equalized after 90 minutes. The third set saw a strong start from Tsitsipas for the first time, the break to 3: 2 put him in the fast lane. Up to the score of 5: 2, Tsitsipas screwed up several set balls. The fact that he lost the passage in the tiebreaker added another chapter to the long history of Tsitsipas and the guided tours that were given. That now called for a change of clothes break. Both players treated themselves to one.
Tsitsipas in the role of Medvedev
Set four went short and painful for Alcaraz to Tsitsipas, who was also allowed to present the decision again and again. Alcaraz kept coming back, had to fend off a breakball in the sixth game. Of course, this match had to be decided in a tie-break, exactly four hours after the start of the game. Alcaraz managed the first mini-break to 3: 1 with a forehand beam, at 4: 2 the sides were switched. A volley mistake by Tsitsipas brought three match points for Alcaraz, the second the audience cheered in favor of the Spaniard. Alcaraz's praise ended up being millimeters out of the way. A few moments later, Carlos Alcaraz was lying on his back, and Stefanos Tsitsipas had his next disappointment in New York. Last year he screwed up a seemingly certain victory against Borna Coric.
Daniil Medvedev, who two years ago cast the role of the bad guy with the US fans, had long since finished his working day by then. Medvedev won against Pablo Andujar in three straight sets. With which New York acoustically agreed.
Here is the men's single tableau
nycmap