Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday battled past former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem in a roller-coaster five-setter played over two days at Wimbledon.
Despite trailing by a set overnight — the match was suspended due to rain on Tuesday seven games into the second set — Tsitsipas played well upon the resumption on Wednesday, while his opponent faltered.
According to ATP, Tsitsipas was up two sets to one and a break point in the first game of the fourth set, but he was made to overcome a spirited comeback from Thiem to escape 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6 (10-8) after three hours and 55 minutes.
“It felt forever. Obviously super glad that it went my way,” Tsitsipas said after the match.
The Greek will now face a second-round Wimbledon showdown with two-time champion Andy Murray.
Maria Sakkari knocked out:
The No.8-seeded Maria Sakkari was knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round by Marta Kostyuk 0-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The Greek won the first set 6-0 but her momentum was stalled by a trio of rain interventions as she lost the next two sets.
Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam in which Sakkari has failed to reach the second week.
This loss comes despite Sakkari now having Australia’s former Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis in her coaching team.
Source: ATP Tour and Perth Now.
