US Open 2019: Andrey Rublev Stuns Stefanos Tsitsipas in Drama Filled Match

The Slam of surprises is back as the volley of surprises starts after Andrey Rublev stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6, 6-7, 5-7 in 3 hours and 54 minutes in the first round of the US Open 2019 on Tuesday.

Set 1

The brutal shots rallies started from the first point itself. The first set was quite an equal one, however, the Russian broke Tsitsipas to take a lead and held his serve to claim the set 6-4.

Set 2

In the second set, the two hold their opening service games but then exchanged breaks to level back the set. Andrey Rublev held his serve quite strongly, while Stefanos Tsitsipas was struggling on his serve but somehow held his serves to take the set to the tiebreaker.

The Greek-gun commanded the tiebreaker as he earned an early mini-break. However, Andrey Rublev fought hard to come back in the tiebreaker after earning a mini-break. Stefanos Tsitsipas then changed gears to take hold of the tiebreaker as he claimed the second set 7-6(5).

Set 3

Stefanos Tsitsipas took a 5-minute break after the completion of the second set, frustrating Andrey Rublev, who was waiting at the receivers end. The two started strongly after the break as they held their service games till the end of the third set tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, Andrey Rublev started strongly unlike the previous tiebreaker. The 21-year-old Russian earned a set point on his serve but couldn’t capitalize onto it. Stefanos Tsitsipas then earned a set point at 7-6, however, the Greek wasted the golden opportunity on his serve. Rublev then took the advantage and won the tiebreaker 9-7.

Set 4

The fourth set saw a lot of drama between Stefanos Tsitsipas and the chair umpire. The 21-year-old Greek star was struggling with cramps while he was facing break points in the fourth set.

After having a check-up with the trainer, Stefanos Tsitsipas was back on the court at 3-2 with Rublev serving to level back the set. Tsitsipas wasted 7 break point opportunities as Rublev held a crucial service game.

Andrey Rublev broke Tsitsipas in the next game with the world No.8 limping on the court due to cramps.

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During the change of ends, Tsitsipas was involved in a long argument with the chair umpire as he was taking time to get off from the bench while recovering from his cramps. He shouted at the umpire, “You are a weirdo, give me a warning, I don’t care”, which resulted in the third warning for Tsitsipas in the match.

The warning ended up docking a point from Tsitsipas. Earlier, Tsitsipas was also warned for on-court coaching and taking more time between the points.

In the middle of all the drama, Stefanos broke Rublev to stay in the match at 5-5. However, he was broken back as Rublev was once again serving for the match at 6-5. Andrey Rublev did not lose this opportunity as he held his serve strongly to claim the fourth set 7-5 and reach the second of the US Open 2019.

Stefanos Tsitsipas has now seen back-to-back Grand Slam round 1 loss as he was defeated by Thomas Fabbiano in the first round of the Wimbledon Championships 2019, last month.

The 2017 US Open quarterfinalist, Andrey Rublev will face Giles Simon in the second round at the Flushing Meadows.