Last year’s French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas attributed unknown changes to his equipment to play a part in his four-set loss by sensational teenager Holger Rune in the fourth round on Monday.
Greece’s fourth seed Tsitsipas suffered a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to the Danes.
Tsitsipas said, “You have it in the back of your head, kind of changed the instrument a little bit, playing with something that helped you get a very good result last year, the finals for the first time. ” ,
“It sticks back in your head that maybe I shouldn’t have done that.”
Troubled by the tournament? I
how teen @holgerrune2003 Beating world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-finals.@amirat , #EmiratesFlyBetterMoments , #Roland Garros pic.twitter.com/NcE2JcmriP
— roland-garros (@rolandgarros) 30 May 2022
Tsitsipas lost to Novak Djokovic in last year’s final after two set-ups.
Rune may be relatively unknown, having won his only Tour title this month, but the mighty 19-year-old has improved the rankings, jumping more than 350 places over the past 15 months to start world number 40. open.
Tsitsipas, 23, the world number four who has yet to win a Grand Slam, declined to explain what the equipment changes were.
this is your moment, @holgerrune2003 I#Roland Garros pic.twitter.com/0etFcp8mbG
— roland-garros (@rolandgarros) 30 May 2022
“You seem to have some changes in terms of equipment and accessories,” Tsitsipas said.
“I won’t put all the blame on the equipment because it’s something I’ve chosen for my personal progress and getting better,” he said.
Players in Paris are using different string tensions for different periods of time, with the onset of the evening session being played in particularly cool conditions depending on temperature and humidity.
Tsitsipas changed the racket in the middle of the game on a sunny day, but declined to elaborate when asked about changes to his equipment.
“I would prefer not to talk about it, please,” said the Greek. “I don’t want to answer that.”