Stefanos Tsitsipas, the second seed at the European Open, had to dig deep and resort to defence mode in order to secure a thrilling opening-round win on Thursday. The Greek tennis sensation showcased his resilience and mental toughness as he fended off a determined Thiago Seyboth Wild to emerge victorious in a grueling two-hour, 26-minute battle.
Tsitsipas, who has had a successful season with a record of 40-19, was on the brink of defeat as he faced three break points in the 11th game of the decider. However, he refused to give up and managed to find a crucial break of his own to seal the victory. Speaking after the match, Tsitsipas said, “It was exhausting out here having to stay in the match. The comeback was crazy. When he was up in the score, I managed to stay in the points and defend well.”
The 23-year-old further added, “It was all psychological at the end, I managed my nerves pretty well. I don’t usually like to build my game around defensive shots, but I had to fight, I had to do anything within my artillery to make it work.” Tsitsipas’ determination and never-give-up attitude were on full display as he fought his way back into the match and emerged victorious.
Tsitsipas’ next opponent will be fifth seed Jiri Lehecka, who had an easy outing in his opening match as he defeated Daniel Altmaier 6-4, 6-3 in just one hour and 13 minutes. The Czech player was in imperious form on serve, winning an impressive 91% of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats. It will be a tough challenge for Tsitsipas, but he will be looking to continue his winning momentum and advance to the semi-finals.
In another exciting match, Zizou Bergs delighted the home crowd with a rousing win over fourth seed Sebastian Baez. The 25-year-old Belgian became just the third player from his country to reach the quarter-finals in Antwerp, following in the footsteps of David Goffin and Ruben Bemelmans. With his 6-3, 6-4 triumph, Bergs showed great composure and skill to defeat a higher-ranked opponent.
Bergs’ next opponent will be Marcos Giron, who produced a gutsy performance to edge past Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(6), 7-6(4) and reach his personal-best sixth quarter-final of the season. The eighth seed was forced to dig deep and show his mental fortitude as he overcame a tough challenge from Rinderknech. Giron will be looking to continue his impressive run and reach the semi-finals in Antwerp.
The European Open has been full of exciting matches and surprises, making it a must-watch for all tennis fans. The players have been showcasing their skills and determination, making for a thrilling tournament so far. With the quarter-finals set to begin, the excitement and intensity are only going to increase.
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In conclusion, Stefanos Tsitsipas’ opening-round win at the European Open was a testament to his resilience and mental toughness. He had to resort to defence mode and fight till the very end to secure the victory. With some exciting matches lined up for the quarter-finals, the tournament promises to be a thrilling one. So, don’t forget to tune in and catch all the action from the European Open.
