Not even a quarter of an hour has passed since the defeat against Thiago Monteiro, when Stefanos Tsitsipas – defeated in his debut in Madrid, double 6-4 – is already arguing in the mixed zone the reason for his defeat. The Greek, recent winner in Monte Carlo and finalist in Barcelona, expresses himself with resignation. What else can you do against an opponent who has connected 89% of his first serves? “He has had a great rival on the other side of the net. He has hit the ball very well and has punished me every time I have played short. He has been very aggressive. And I felt out of rhythm with the rest for almost the entire game. I simply want to congratulate you; I have nothing to say about myself. That’s tennis. Life goes on,” he explains.
Tsitsipas, a singular, thoughtful and philosophical guy, cannot be blamed for much. For him it has simply been a day as twisted as the one that frames this Saturday in the Caja Mágica, where the water falls with force and disorder dominates in the different rooms. The Greek has not been too inspired either, so he leaves the San Fermín neighborhood much earlier than planned. The good line offered in the first two dates of the tour dissolves and he – finalist in 2019, semi-finalist in 2022 and quarter-finalist in the last edition – relativizes his manner before journalists. “I just focus on the beauties of life,” he says; “Tennis is there, I am lucky to play every day. I have to accept it and move on. Maybe he was more prepared than me.”
Tsitsipas prefers to view the setback as a mere accident, and hopes to refresh his mind in the interval that will lead him to Rome, the prelude to Roland Garros. He leaves, and Jannik Sinner looks this morning, incontestable against his compatriot Lorenzo Sonego. The top seed of the tournament resolves in 69 minutes (6-0 and 6-3), while on Court 3, good news is announced: the erosion of Sara Sorribes takes effect and the veteran Victoria Azarenka falls in a duel of 2h 50m: 7-6(0) and 6-3. The Spanish, therefore, will play the round of 16 for the second time at the Caja Mágica. The challenge is immense: opposite will be the number one, Iga Swiatek.
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