Stefanos Tsitsipas’ woes at the US Open continued as he faced a second-round exit, leaving tennis legend Martina Navratilova to dissect his performance. The Greek star began the year strong with an Australian Open final, but his struggle to maintain that momentum has raised concerns about his standing in the top ten.
Swiss qualifier, Dominic Stricker proved too strong for the seventh seed, sealing a surprising victory with a 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3 scoreline in a pulsating four-hour marathon match. Tsitsipas’ post-match reflection highlighted his mental lapse in this encounter, “Usually I’m much tougher mentally, and I have shown it by coming back. Today was not the case.”
However, it was more than just the mental lapse as Navratilova has pointed out. Her discerning perspective highlights crucial aspects that Tsitsipas can work on to revitalize his game. She pinpointed two core areas that demand improvement, “He doesn’t get enough balls into play. He goes for big returns when he is close to the baseline and most of all, his backhand is too predictable.”
Dominic Stricker falls to the floor after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas at US Open.
Stef served for the match.
1st top 10 win of his life.
1st Grand Slam 3rd round.
You won’t find a happier person in New York than this young man. ❤️
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 30, 2023
As per her, Tsitsipas loses his patience in rallies, often going for ambitious shots too early resulting in his downfall. She also urges him to develop an offensive backhand down the line, emphasizing the importance of unpredictability and versatility in his shots. These observations provide valuable insight into enhancing Tsitsipas’ match-play.
Incorporating Navratilova’s suggestions could be a pivotal step in not only reclaiming his peak performance but also establishing himself as a leading contender in Majors. The path to transformation lies in Tsitsipas’ willingness to refine his approach and be a force to be reckoned with, especially on the big stage.
Stefanos Tsitsipas emerges as an unwanted flag bearer of next-gen losses
Tennis fans took to social media to voice their astonishment and perspectives as Stefanos Tsitsipas had an early exit in the 2023 US Open’s second round, losing to Dominic Stricker in a five-set duel. Tsitsipas, who started his campaign on a high note against Milos Raonic, experienced an abrupt halt against Stricker.
The tennis community was unequivocal in their praise for the unheralded Dominic Stricker, with many congratulations coming his way after a promising victory over the seventh seed.
Ohhh, the pure happiness on his face.
This is priceless, let’s hope we have a new rising star 🌟 pic.twitter.com/DdODtv9ITx— Nico OooOoo (@Nico_le_ta_) August 31, 2023
However, the fans were quick to weigh in with their views and reactions to Tsitsipas’ loss. One fan suggested that the emergence of next-gen players like Holger Rune, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Tsitsipas might inadvertently clear an unhindered path for Novak Djokovic to reach the finals.
The tweet resonated with this sentiment: “These so-called next-gen players just don’t want anything to do with Novak and his path to finals.”
First Rune, then FAA, now Tsitsipas… These so called next gen players just doesn’t want anything to do with Novak and his path to finals 🤦
— Rudra (@rudravarma0831) August 30, 2023
Amidst the banter, another fan highlighted Tsitsipas’ record at the US Open, implying a lack of progress on hard courts, where he has more often than not made early exits.
If anything captures Tsitsipas’s lack of improvement on hard court, it’s his US Open record. He’s played the main draw six times and has two R1 losses, two R2 losses, and two R3 losses.
— Owen (@tennisnation) August 30, 2023
One enthusiastic fan even offered Tsitsipas improbable advice on how to improve his game, and a bit sarcastically;
Congrats to stricker ,but keep it quiet,,,you can do much bigger
Tsitsipas backhand, again, and again .
He needs a miracle to improve the reflexes ,and consistency of his backhand .
Or ,,,,, change it into a double handed backhand .
— Fadygoda87 (@fadygoda87) August 30, 2023
The tennis community’s engagement on social media adds an extra layer of excitement to the ongoing drama of the US Open, which has seen some unexpected losses in the first two rounds. As fans share their analyses and viewpoints, the intrigue of the tournament only grows deeper.