Stefanos Tsitsipas needed five sets to battle past former World No. 1 and 2012 champion Andy Murray on Monday at the US Open. The Greek had less difficulty on Wednesday evening, but he still had to work hard to beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0 to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows.
The third seed’s victory took him two hours and 41 minutes, just more than half of the four hours and 49 minutes he needed against Murray.
Outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, a severe storm flooded the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The wind and rain were so significant that it penetrated Louis Armstrong Stadium, where Diego Schwartzman and Kevin Anderson were playing.
"I could hear [the rain]. At first I thought it was the crowd, just people talking on the back seats," Tsitsipas said. "I just realised it was not the crowd, it was the rain. Just a lot of noise coming from up there... I do have a bed here, so I might have a sleepover here tonight."
Tsitsipas did not have to deal with such issues, but he did have to overcome hurdles on court. The Greek pulled through, however, hitting 53 winners (double Mannarino’s 26) to claim his tour-leading 50th win of the season. He will next play #NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in four sets earlier in the day.
"He's a young talent that has been doing very well recently. He's been constantly improving, getting up in the [FedEx ATP] Rankings. I think he is someone that has a good game for all surfaces," Tsitsipas said. "I want to play the best of my game against him. I see him as a potential contender in the future for Grand Slam titles and other big events."
World No. 3 Tsitsipas is into the third round at the US Open for the second consecutive year, but he has never advanced farther in New York. The Greek enjoyed the best major run of his career this year at Roland Garros, where he made the final and lost in five sets against Novak Djokovic.
Tsitsipas broke in his first return game against Mannarino, and seized control from there. The Greek struck a forehand return winner on the full stretch to go up 2-0 in the opener, and that set the tone.
Although Mannarino’s flat groundstrokes and ability to take the ball early trouble many players, Tsitsipas never gave him a chance to control the action. The Greek used his booming serve to stay on top of points during his service games, hitting a career-best 27 aces and winning 85 per cent of his first-serve points and keeping Mannarino from finding a rhythm.
The Frenchman's level improved as the match wore on, though. Mannarino cut down his unforced errors and took the third-set tie-break when Tsitsipas missed a wide forehand into the net.
“I had a great start in the first and second set, taking the lead early. Did everything tactically kind of correct. Had gained that momentum from the beginning of both sets. It felt like I was just comfortable, performing at my best,” Tsitsipas said. “In the third I had difficulties to find that game, that momentum, as I did in the first and second. I think he also kind of loosened up a little bit.
“The tie-break was a close, very close battle, in which he prevailed I think [because he had] less unforced errors than me.”
Tsitsipas returned resurgent after a change of clothes to take the fourth set without conceding a game.
The third seed’s victory took him two hours and 41 minutes, just more than half of the four hours and 49 minutes he needed against Murray.
Outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, a severe storm flooded the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The wind and rain were so significant that it penetrated Louis Armstrong Stadium, where Diego Schwartzman and Kevin Anderson were playing.
"I could hear [the rain]. At first I thought it was the crowd, just people talking on the back seats," Tsitsipas said. "I just realised it was not the crowd, it was the rain. Just a lot of noise coming from up there... I do have a bed here, so I might have a sleepover here tonight."
Tsitsipas did not have to deal with such issues, but he did have to overcome hurdles on court. The Greek pulled through, however, hitting 53 winners (double Mannarino’s 26) to claim his tour-leading 50th win of the season. He will next play #NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in four sets earlier in the day.
"He's a young talent that has been doing very well recently. He's been constantly improving, getting up in the [FedEx ATP] Rankings. I think he is someone that has a good game for all surfaces," Tsitsipas said. "I want to play the best of my game against him. I see him as a potential contender in the future for Grand Slam titles and other big events."
World No. 3 Tsitsipas is into the third round at the US Open for the second consecutive year, but he has never advanced farther in New York. The Greek enjoyed the best major run of his career this year at Roland Garros, where he made the final and lost in five sets against Novak Djokovic.
Tsitsipas broke in his first return game against Mannarino, and seized control from there. The Greek struck a forehand return winner on the full stretch to go up 2-0 in the opener, and that set the tone.
Although Mannarino’s flat groundstrokes and ability to take the ball early trouble many players, Tsitsipas never gave him a chance to control the action. The Greek used his booming serve to stay on top of points during his service games, hitting a career-best 27 aces and winning 85 per cent of his first-serve points and keeping Mannarino from finding a rhythm.
The Frenchman's level improved as the match wore on, though. Mannarino cut down his unforced errors and took the third-set tie-break when Tsitsipas missed a wide forehand into the net.
“I had a great start in the first and second set, taking the lead early. Did everything tactically kind of correct. Had gained that momentum from the beginning of both sets. It felt like I was just comfortable, performing at my best,” Tsitsipas said. “In the third I had difficulties to find that game, that momentum, as I did in the first and second. I think he also kind of loosened up a little bit.
“The tie-break was a close, very close battle, in which he prevailed I think [because he had] less unforced errors than me.”
Tsitsipas returned resurgent after a change of clothes to take the fourth set without conceding a game.