A good clay season didn't continue well for Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2024 Madrid Open, as he was beaten in his first match in the Spanish capital.
The Greek player generally hasn't played spectacularly in Madrid recently, even though he had some notable performances here earlier in his career. His 2024 season wasn't anything special until the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he was able to grab his third trophy at the event.
He followed that up with a good run in Barcelona, making the final, but he lost to Casper Ruud in it. That's a lot of tennis recently, and maybe also because of that, he wasn't able to find his top level at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid.
He certainly was disappointed after the match, admitting that he felt out of rhythm for the entire match.
"I just wish I was able to return the way I did in the last game. I felt out of rhythm the entire match on my returns. I felt very [unbalanced] and like my body was going all over the place. I would like to congratulate [Monteiro]. I have nothing to say on behalf of me. Great match from his side. This is tennis."
Tsitsipas was asked about feeling fatigued during the math, but he completely dodged the question initially. This hasn't been the best event for him lately, so even if the fatigue played a role, the conditions may have played a more significant one.
The upcoming Italian Open fits his style much better, so getting a good rest before that event will certainly benefit him. After being pressed more about his physical state, Tsitsipas eventually admitted that he didn't really feel all that well.
"I was not perhaps 100% ready for this match, and my opponent was 100% ready for this match. Therefore, he walked away with the victory. He was just much more there. His senses were more present and he prevailed."
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