World No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas landed 39 successive first serves en path to claiming a 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-5) comeback win over Dominic Thiem on the Madrid Open, with the Greek crediting his focus and leisure for his near-perfect serving efficiency.
Tsitsipas regarded at risk of falling in his first match of the event on Saturday, however he discovered a approach again into it by dominating the second set after which clinching the tiebreaker within the decider.
The 24-year-old ended with a first-serve price of 79 per cent, considerably greater than the 57 per cent he managed in his straight-sets defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in final week’s Barcelona Open remaining.
“That’s fantastic, 39 is a lot,” Tsitsipas stated of his streak.
“That’s a positive mark for me. I owe it all to fluidity and just being relaxed on my serve … It’s just pure relaxation and focus.”
Tsitsipas additionally praised former US Open champion Thiem for turning the two-hour, 19-minute encounter right into a bodily demanding contest.
“I’m in a way happy that we were able to show that kind of tennis,” he stated.
“Today sort of showed what kind of intensity two guys that play single-hand backhands can bring to tennis.
“I’m completely satisfied I received away with a win. Things weren’t simple on the very finish however I simply saved preventing. The third set it was simply pure combat.
“He’s not someone that’s going to give up and he hates even giving the slightest to you in terms of free points.”
Tsitsipas will subsequent meet Argentine Sebastian Baez, who beat the USA’s Marcos Giron 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
