Stefanos Tsitsipas first round challenge at Wimbledon this year, he faced former US Open champion Dominic Thiem, whose ranking has fallen to No. 91. The Austrian hadn’t won a Wimbledon match in six years and his comeback from a devastating wrist injury had been brutally slow.
Dominic is always feared and he fought bravely. It took Tsitsipas almost 3:56 and two match points before he prevailed 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (8).
The No. 5 seed Stefanos, who next plays Andy Murray, told the British crowd that he remembers watching the Scot win Wimbledon in 2013 and Andy’s triumph still gives him goosebumps. Stef conceded, “I’m not expecting anyone to support me. But it’s not my first rodeo. Centre Court is almost like Andy’s bedroom and I’ve never played on Centre Court.”
It was also a good day for Tsitsipas’s relatively new girlfriend, Paula Badosa, who beat American Alison Riske-Amritraj today. Tennis’ new power couple will be playing mixed doubles together, and Tsitsipas is also playing men’s doubles with his brother, Petros Tsitsipas.
Stefanos quipped, “Never in a million years would I think I’d be playing singles, doubles and mixed. I think I’m a bit of a masochist.”
Tsitsipas decision to play three events had insiders asking “What the heck is this guy doing? Would Djokovic ever consider for a nanosecond playing more than just the singles in a Slam?”
Tsitsipas vs Murray
Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, he has little time for reflection with a showdown with Andy Murray awaiting him tomorrow. Murray managed to finish his match on Monday as he played on one of the two covered courts.
On paper, Tsitsipas is the favorite to win but he doesn’t view it that way.
“He is a strong opponent, he has played on this court so many times,” Tsitsipas commented. “Grass suits his game very well. He has shown it with titles, two titles here, at Wimbledon. He has also won Queen’s in the past. He’s a strong opponent on grass.”
