They chanted 'Carlos, Carlos,' right before break points, and booed Tsitsipas whenever they got a chance. Throughout the match, he was not just playing against the 18-year-old Spaniard, but he was also playing against a packed Arthur Ashe crowd, which was on Alcaraz's side throughout.

I don't know how much harder I need to hit my return in order to apply pressure,' he added.Īfter a grueling four-hour match, in which he was only really in complete control in the fourth set, which he dominated 6-0, Tsitsipas mostly played defense, struggling to take control once Alcaraz blitzed a forehand to the opposite end of his court. 'I was returning pretty deep, applying pressure on my returns. I didn't expect him to raise his level so much,' Tsitsipas said. ' hitting winners after the first return of mine, just being so much in control, which was surprising, especially in the fifth set. Then, at the Olympics, he lost to France's Ugo Humbert in three sets.įriday's match against Alcaraz was a repeat of similar mistakes throughout the year in not capitalizing on big breaks.Īlcaraz was consistent, so when Tsitsipas' focus slipped, he pounced, not giving the No. He went into Wimbledon as one of the favorites, but made a shocking first-round exit, losing to American Frances Tiafoe. Make your picks and compete for a chance to win $1,000! Make Your Picks 1 Novak Djokovic, after leading two sets to love, he plundered, losing the next three sets. Tsitsipas had a fairytale French Open run this year, becoming the first Greek player in history to reach a Grand Slam final, beating Alexander Zverev in five sets to get there. you feel like you're in control, and it doesn't really go your way at the end,' Tsitsipas said at the news conference following the match.Īnd he has had those moments too many times since his French Open final in June. 'It's one of these matches and one of these feelings where. He played his second five-setter and second four-hour-plus match in one week, and lost it 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 0-6, 7-6. Tsitsipas had moments when he shined but never dominated cohesively and consistently throughout the match.

That soft touch made Tsitsipas move from the far end of the court to the front.

And before Tsitsipas could readjust after going on the defense to return that crosscourt forehand - if he managed to get to it in the first place - Alcaraz often followed it with a drop shot. It came in at a deep angle, and it was incredibly fast. NEW YORK - From the very first game, it looked like Stefanos Tsitsipas had a big problem: 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz' crosscourt forehand.

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