Tipped as Wimbledon favourite, beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas glad about escaping tennis bubble life
LONDON: He was tipped as the Wimbledon champion-in-waiting should Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer falter, but Stefanos Tsitsipas exited Wimbledon on Monday, dejected but glad to be a step closer to escaping the tennis bubble world.
Third seed Tsitsipas was stunned by America’s Frances Tiafoe, ranked 57, in the first round 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
It was a loss which came just two weeks after he lost a five-set French Open final thriller to Djokovic.
“The bubble makes it really tiring week by week,” said 22-year-old Tsitsipas.
“It’s certainly very difficult when you know mentally you’re going to go from one bubble, being in that bubble two and a half weeks, maybe even more than that, like close to a month, to be honest.
“Just like two weeks later you still have to undergo the same procedure and the same thing again. It’s just not easy. It’s a challenge on its own already.”
Tsitsipas has now lost three times in the first round at Wimbledon where his best run was a last-16 place in 2018.
His lack of exposure on grass — he was playing just his 16th match on the surface — was perfect fodder for Tiafoe who had won a second-tier Challenger grass court title just two weeks ago
“My opponent played much better, significantly better, than me,” admitted Tsitsipas.
“There wasn’t the drive that I was hoping for.
“There wasn’t that same fighting spirit that I usually put out on the court.
“But of course, yeah, I would like to see a different me next time. There’s always a next time. That’s a good thing.”
Tsitsipas’s bubble life he detests so much is not quite over as he plays in the doubles with his brother Petros.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.