Under Court Suzanne Lenglen’s new roof, Stefanos Tsitsipas was given a testing work-out by the dangerous Daniel Altmaier, who knocked Jannik Sinner out from last year’s tournament.
Tsitsipas overcame the resilient German 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4 in two hours and 45 minutes to reach the French Open third round for the sixth time.
The ninth seed played flawlessly for the first hour, striking 27 winners in the opening two sets however Altmaier wouldn’t surrender and began to find his own best level, taking the third set.
The German was eyeing an upset win when he broke Tsitsipas’ serve in the fourth but with the danger of a fifth set looming, the top ranked Greek player played more aggressively, breaking back for 4-4 before he powered to victory.
“Having the crowd by my side this morning has been incredible,” Tsitsipas said after the match.
“It felt amazing. To get to play such marvellous tennis. I really enjoyed it.”
Still seen as probably the best modern-day player not to have won a grand slam, Tsitsipas is determined to pull himself out of that particular argument this year following an impressive clay-court season.
But the Greek, finalist at Roland Garros in 2021, blamed himself for a lapse in concentration in the third set, saying he had been forced to fight against his emotions and adding, like some wise Greek philosopher, “the biggest war you have is with yourself.”
“You have to figure that out and get it out of the way. I was down in the score. I didn’t give up. I’ve had plenty of comebacks in the past and I’ve learned from those,” he added.
Tsitsipas will next face either Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego or Zhang Zhizhen, of China, while also featuring in men’s and mixed doubles action alongside his brother Petros and his partner Paula Badosa.
With AAP
