"Even though sometimes I get broken serving for the match, let's say, I still find ways in the tie-breaker or perhaps in the fifth set if that has ever happened. "Usually, I'm much tougher mentally and I have shown it by coming back," said the 25-year-old, who has replaced his father Apostolos as his main coach with former Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis. The Greek, who reached this year's Australian Open final and the 2021 French Open final, served for the match at 5-3 in the fourth set but could not close out and paid the price. The confidence is high and I believe a lot in myself."īut it was another early exit for Tsitsipas, who has never gone past the third round in New York. "Right now the belief is very, very high. "It was a tough battle but I'm just super happy right now. "I felt pretty good from the first set onwards," said former junior French Open champion Stricker, who saved a match point before winning his second qualifying match. Leading 5-2 up and a game away from the biggest win of his career, he was singing along to Whitney Houston's I Want to Dance With Somebody as it played out around the court. Stricker is making his US Open debut but the 21-year-old has displayed a calmness and self-belief that belies his age so far at this tournament.īoth of those qualities were evident at a crucial point of the fifth set against Tsitsipas. Singing Stricker shows confidence in big upset Dominic Stricker came through three rounds of qualifying to make the main draw at the US Open Tenth seed Frances Tiafoe also won in straight sets against Austria's Sebastian Ofner, but 14th seed Tommy Paul had to fight back from two sets down to beat Russia's Roman Safiullin.īig-serving youngster Ben Shelton edged a tight first set against 2020 champion Dominic Thiem before the Austrian, fighting his way back up the rankings after spending 10 months out last year with a wrist injury, retired early in the second set through illness.
If I win this battle, then I win the battle outside against the opponent."Īmerican ninth seed Taylor Fritz is still a prospective quarter-final opponent for Djokovic after he cruised past Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas in a 6-1 6-2 6-2 success.įritz was one of four American players to go through on Wednesday as the host nation looks for a first home men's champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.
"Every single match I play myself the most, in my mind. I still have the hunger and the desire to play my best tennis on this court.
"That's what gives me strength at 36 years of age. "I still feel like I can play better but I'm happy to be back playing in New York," said Djokovic, who has won three titles at Flushing Meadows. Serbia's Djokovic plays compatriot Laslo Djere on Friday for a place in the last 16. Now his pathway has been made even smoother - on paper, at least - by the exits of Tsitsipas and Ruud, who joined Danish fourth seed Holger Rune as an early casualty in this section. Ruud, seeded fifth and last year's runner-up, lost 6-4 5-7 6-2 0-6 6-2 to Chinese world number 67 Zhang Zhizhen.īut second seed Novak Djokovic cruised through with a 6-4 6-1 6-1 win over Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles.ĭjokovic, who is aiming to match Margaret Court with a record-equalling 24th major title, was already the heavy favourite to reach the men's final from the bottom half of the draw.
0 kommentar(er)
