Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame a stern test in his Halle Open opener, edging past Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) in a tense first-round encounter on Monday.
Unseeded at an ATP event for the first time since the 2018 Cincinnati Masters, the Greek star showed flashes of resilience as he begins a new chapter under the guidance of coach Goran Ivanisevic, who joined his team following Tsitsipas’ early exit at Roland Garros.
Tsitsipas made a confident start, breaking Darderi for a 3-2 lead and maintaining control to take the first set 6-4. But the Italian responded emphatically, racing to a 3-0 advantage in the second and levelling the match with a 6-3 set.
The decider was tightly contested, with Darderi creating five break point opportunities but failing to convert. Tsitsipas held his nerve in the tiebreak, eventually sealing victory on his fourth match point.
Currently ranked 25th in the world — his lowest position since 2018 — the former world No. 3 is aiming to regain form on grass, with Wimbledon on the horizon. The fourth round remains his best performance at the All England Club, and the 26-year-old is eager to make a deeper run this year.
Source: msn.com
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