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Each week, LastWordOnTennis will spotlight a participant to keep watch over as tournaments are performed world wide. This week’s choice is Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Miami Open strikes into its second week this week. All of the gamers remaining have at the least three wins underneath their belt. With 20 seeds knocked out of the boys’s draw, there have been some surprises alongside the best way.
One man’s progress within the draw has not been so shocking, nevertheless. Stefanos Tsitsipas is thru to the Spherical of 16 in Florida and is our choose for this week’s participant to observe. Listed below are the explanation why try to be watching the World #5.
Tsitsipas is in higher type than you’d count on
Tsitsipas hasn’t gained any titles this 12 months, so maybe he’s flown underneath your radar. He’s in higher type than you’d count on, nevertheless.
In Australia, Tsitsipas turned solely the third man to defeat Rafael Nadal from two units to like down (Roger Federer, 2005 Miami Masters; Fabio Fognini, 2015 US Open). He additionally made the Acapulco remaining earlier this month. He’s overwhelmed seven Prime 30 gamers this 12 months: Felix Auger-Aliassime, John Isner, Karen Khachanov, Hubert Hurkacz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Alex De Minaur, and the aforementioned Nadal.
His losses haven’t been shameful both. Russians Rublev and Medvedev have been red-hot this 12 months, Zverev was impressed within the Acapulco remaining, and Pierre Hughes-Herbert performed a well-executed serve and volley sport.
In Miami, he’s persevering with to faucet into his profitable type. His win towards fortunate loser Damir Dzumhur was pretty routine, however on Monday, he defeated Kei Nishikori in three units, working away with the decider. Nishikori has began to search out some comeback type so this was a powerful victory. His final match was towards Lorenzo Sonego, who handed Djokovic his heaviest-ever defeat on a tough courtroom. Tsitsipas dismissed Sonego’s harmful sport in straight units.
A chance to win one other large title
Tsitsipas has been the perfect of the remaining for some time now.
His largest title got here on the 2019 ATP Tour Finals. Nevertheless, that is by far his most spectacular accolade so far. He’s reached two Masters finals, three Grand Slam semifinals, and 5 ATP 500 finals, all of which he’s misplaced. On all events, bar his assembly with Rublev in Hamburg, he’s come up towards someone higher-ranked than him. In Miami, the one man greater ranked than him is Daniil Medvedev, who gave the impression to be struggling bodily in his match towards Alexei Popyrin.
Tsitsipas will likely be extra motivated than ever to say some authority on the Miami draw and double his large title haul.
Tsitsi-pass
Tsitsipas’ sport has grown tremendously in consistency and energy within the final three years. One side of his sport that has arguably improved essentially the most, and is commonly missed, is his capacity to hit a passing shot.
The Greek is understood to apply his backhand down the road incessantly. If an opponent approaches with a weak inside-out forehand, Tsitsipas can hit a brief crosscourt angle or he can hearth the down the road shot with out blinking. His forehand is much more spectacular, hitting the quick crosscourt angle at a better proportion on this wing.
An excellent instance of his passing prowess was in his current dismantling of up-and-coming Lorenzo Musetti in Acapulco. Tsitsipas gained eight of Musetti’s 14 internet approaches.
Anticipate to see flashes of brilliance when it issues most from Tsitsipas.
Stefanos Tsitsipas: This Week’s Participant To Watch
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been on the hunt for an additional large title for some time now. Alternative is within the air and Tsitsipas is in nice type so maybe he’ll finish his large title drought this week.
A promising encounter with Hubert Hurkacz awaits him within the quarterfinals. Tsitsipas is 6-1 towards the Pole so he ought to fancy his possibilities. Be sure you catch it this Thursday.
Principal Picture:
Embed from Getty Images
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