Tsitsipas’ US Open Woes Continue with First-Round Exit
Publication Date: 2024-08-27 19:39:11
Early Exit for Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis sensation, has hit yet another snag in his US Open journey, suffering an early exit for the seventh year in a row. The 11th seed faced a disappointing defeat against Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round, losing in a tight match with scores of 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Consistent Struggles at Flushing Meadows
Despite his impressive achievements, including being a runner-up at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open, Tsitsipas has struggled to find his footing at the US Open. He has never made it beyond the third round in New York, with three first-round exits to his name.
Match Highlights
In a match that lasted almost four hours, Tsitsipas showcased moments of brilliance but ultimately faltered. He had a 40-0 lead on serve while trailing 3-4 in the third set, only to be broken. Additionally, he faced a cheap break at 5-5 in the fourth set, which sealed his fate.
Throughout the match, Tsitsipas converted only three of his ten break point opportunities, while Kokkinakis was more efficient, converting four out of eight chances.
Changes Leading Up to the US Open
In the lead-up to this year’s tournament, Tsitsipas made headlines by halting his coaching partnership with his father, citing concerns over coaching tactics following an early exit at the Cincinnati Open. This decision raised eyebrows, given his history of working closely with his father throughout his career.
What’s Next for Kokkinakis?
Thanasi Kokkinakis, who had only reached the second round once in five previous attempts at the US Open, will now face either Nuno Borges of Portugal or Argentina’s Federico Coria in the next round.
Other Notable Matches
The first two days of the US Open saw other surprises as well. Canadian 19th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime was ousted in the first round by Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, who delivered a dominant performance with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz continued his return from knee surgery with a solid win over Kazakh Timofey Skatov, advancing with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).
Upcoming Matches
World number one Jannik Sinner and 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz are set to begin their campaigns later today, while fifth seed Daniil Medvedev will also be in action during the second day of play at Flushing Meadows.
As the tournament progresses, fans will be eagerly watching to see if Tsitsipas can regroup and find his form in future competitions, while hoping for exciting matches ahead.
For more details, check out the original article here.