Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered an absolutely brutal loss to Daniel Altmaier in an epic five-setter. This defeat was an especially disappointing end to his season. When the unusual match finally came to an end, it was Altmaier who celebrated his victory, defeating Tsitsipas 7-6, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. This loss counts as the biggest upset of the tournament thus far for the former world No. 3. It is the first time since 2017 that they will finish the year not having advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam.
The four hour and 26 minute contest was a testament to each players’ competitiveness and artistry. Tsitsipas, a past finalist at the Australian Open and the French Open, had his troubles. He was unable to keep up his speed, and in doing so lost crucial performance. Yet, after his recent coaching changes, his performance was under new scrutiny. Last month, he terminated his relationship with coach Goran Ivanisevic and re-hired his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas as his coach.
The match was filled with drama, and not just due to the controversy over Altmaier’s underarm serves. Tsitsipas seemed to voice his opposition to this strategy in real time on-court.
“Next time, don’t wonder why I hit you, OK? No, I’m just saying if you serve underarm … if you serve underarm,” – Stefanos Tsitsipas
Following their match, Tsitsipas offered an outstretched hand to Altmaier. The emotional response from the crowd was a complicated combination of cheers and jeers, much of it directed toward Altmaier as he left the court. The audience’s reaction underscored how emotional and controversial the competition had become.
It has been an incredibly difficult season for Tsitsipas, as he would recall from April, when he last won consecutive matches (at the Barcelona Open). His current form has actually dropped him as low as 28th in the world rankings at only 27 years of age. As this season wraps up, Tsitsipas will look back on some positive results. He’s already looking ahead for a serious rematch bid next year.