Perhaps no one has had a more disappointing week this November than Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas. The sixth-ranked player in the world was only in his second match at the ATP finals when he was forced to retire due to a back injury.
Tsitsipas on his fifth ATP final stint
The Greek sensation made his inaugural appearance at the prestigious ATP final at the young age of 21 in 2019. Winning one match or getting to the semi-finals would have been enough to make his compatriots proud. But knowing Tsitsipas and how determined he was during that time, he did more than that. He beat tennis legend Roger Federer in the semi-finals, faced Austrian player Dominic Thiem in an epic finals 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (4), and won the ATP finals.
THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE ODYSSEY
The moment @StefTsitsipas became #NittoATPFinals champion! pic.twitter.com/geMfGGfvv1
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 17, 2019
In the years to come, Tsitsipas remained a star, and at every match he went to, his supporters made sure to watch it. He was, after all, the tennis pride of Greece.
Following his 2019 debut at the ATP finals, Tsitsipas never failed to qualify for the season-ending tournament.
And now in his fifth-year stint, fans were eager to see the Greek join the finals once again. Despite reports that Tsitsipas had elbow and shoulder problems before the competition began, Tsitsipas persisted in his determination to compete.
Tsitsipas lost the first match
Being placed in the Green group, Tsitsipas was lumped together with Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune.
In the first round robin match, Tsitsipas went head to head against Italian player Jannik Sinner, the third-ranked player in the world.
Unfortunately, Tsitsipas lost the match as Sinner swept him in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Tsitsipas concedes in second match
In his second match against Holger Rune, Tsitsipas’ body eventually gave in when he suddenly called it quits in the middle of the match.
Rune was leading 2-1, and it became increasingly apparent that Tsitsipas was in some state of discomfort. At the change of the ends, Tsitsipas called for a physician and decided that it would be better to retire than to continue and risk his health in the process.
In a post-match press conference, a distraught Tsitsipas confessed that the decision killed him.
“It kills me not to be able to finish this tournament,” said Tsitsipas.
“It kills me not to be able to finish this tournament” 😢
You’ll be back next year, @StefTsitsipas 💪#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/T77gc2D0aD
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 14, 2023
Photo Cover: IG