Game Set and Match Stefanos Tsitsipas. Stefanos Tsitsipas wins the match 7-6(2) 6-3 .
The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas made a winning return to action as he reached the Hamburg European Open quarter-finals with victory over Dominik Koepfer in straight sets.
Having lost a five-set epic against Novak Djokovic in the French Open final, Tsitsipas was knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon against Frances Tiafoe.
The Greek welcomed a return to the clay courts in Hamburg, though, as he saw off a beating Koepfer 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 in a productive workout lasting one hour and 44 minutes on Wednesday.
Tsitsipas dropped serve in the first game of the match but immediately struck back and was not broken again in the contest.
The elegance on show š@steftsitsipas #HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/i0QAsWT6YR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 14, 2021
āI think itās fair to say that things were tricky today. I had an opponent who was willing to fight and give his best performance out there today,ā Tsitsipas said afterwards in his on-court interview. āThings worked out for me. At the end of the first set and towards the second set I think I started loosening up, and I felt more flexible in my game.
āDominik, heās someone that I havenāt played in a long time, I think. We faced each other many, many years ago, back when I was in the Futures circuit. I donāt remember, but he has improved a lot since then, and I think heās had an extraordinary year where heās been climbing up the rankings and improving his game constantly.
āIām grateful to be in the next round and looking forward to whatās ahead.ā
In a earlier interview he was questioned about his olympic ambitions he said "Representing my country is the biggest honour" Flag of Greece
"Representing my country is the biggest honour" š¬š·
From Wimbledon disappointment to excitement ahead of the Olympics, @steftsitsipas reflects on a busy summer of tennis#HamburgOpen pic.twitter.com/B3raJu8H30
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 14, 2021
Tsitsipas will next face sixth seed Filip Krajinovic after he fought past German wild card Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to reach his third quarter-final of the season.
The Serbian also advanced to the last eight on home soil in Belgrade (l. to Berrettini) and Munich (l. to Struff) this year. Krajinovic hit nine aces and won 73 per cent (47/64) of his first-service points to defeat the former World No. 16 in two hours and 25 minutes.
