Stefanos Tsitsipas Reveals Concerning News Ahead of Title Defense at ATP Finals

Problems are mounting for Stefanos Tsitsipas just as he nears an attempt to defend his title at the ATP Finals. The world number six lost in his opening match at the Rolex Paris Masters 2020, which saw three tie-breakers against French player Ugo Humbert.

Soon after the match, Tsitsipas gave an update on his fitness that spells trouble for him heading into the ATP Finals 2020. Back in the French Open 2020 semi-final against Novak Djokovic, the Greek star picked up a leg injury that hampered him in the fifth set.

Tsitsipas revealed on Tuesday that his injury had resurfaced. It troubled him midway through the match. “During the second set my Roland Garros injury came back, and it wasn’t as bad as at the French Open,” Tsitsipas said after the match.

Stefanos Tsitsipas explains how his injury affected him

While TSitsipas carried on and completed the match, he was not sure if he should have kept playing. “But it [the injury] kind of had me on the edge of things, and I wasn’t sure if that’s good for me to be out there,” Tsitsipas continued.

“But that’s not an excuse, for sure. I still fought and gave my best out there. Despite this thing that I had on court,” the Greek player added.

The match was eventually decided by the thinnest of margins. However, Tsitsipas was quite unhappy with his performance. “I’m just disappointed with the way I played,” the 22-year-old expressed.

A poor run of form before a big tournament

Humbert won the opening set, 7-4 in the tie-breaker. The Frenchman had the chance to seal the match in the second set. But Tsitsipas saved three match points, winning the tie-break 8-6 to force a deciding set. Tsitsipas forced another tie-breaker despite his injury, but Humbert soon grabbed the win on his fifth opportunity.

Tsitsipas lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16 at the Vienna Open last week. That match was another three-setter, which Tsitsipas lost after winning the opening set. Before that, he struggled before winning against Jan-Lennard Struff in the first match there.

Tsitsipas now heads to London to defend his title there. The ATP Finals title remains Tsitsipas’ biggest career victory so far, and he needs to be at full fitness to have a chance to defend it.

Read more – “I Was Astonished”: Ugo Humbert on Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Toilet Break at Rolex Paris Masters