Ninth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas showcased his form on Friday, breezing past Zhang Zhizhen with a decisive 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 victory in the third round of Roland Garros. The Greek star, aiming for his first Grand Slam title, demonstrated remarkable baseline control and aggressive play, completing the match in just one hour and 31 minutes.
Tsitsipas, known for his fluid movement and strategic shot placement, did not face a single break point throughout the match. His dominance was evident as he won 83 per cent of his first-serve points, an achievement highlighted by Infosys Stats. The Monte-Carlo champion, currently holding a 27-9 season record, fired 30 winners against 20 unforced errors, proving his readiness to contend for the title.
“I felt my tennis was very fluid today,” Tsitsipas shared in his on-court interview. “The ball came off the racquet nicely, allowing me to construct points with patience and create excellent angles. My decision-making and shot placement were precise, helping me to open up the court effectively.”
Under the roof of Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Tsitsipas maintained control, displaying a near-perfect serve game. This victory marks his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Rome quarter-finalist Zhang.
Assessing his performance, Tsitsipas remarked, “Today’s match is one of the best I’ve played this tournament. It’s great to see myself playing so effectively and accurately.”
Next, Tsitsipas will face Matteo Arnaldi, who pulled off an upset by defeating sixth seed Andrey Rublev 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-4. With his current momentum, Tsitsipas is poised to make a deep run in the tournament.
