In the arena of tennis, emotions often surge as victories intertwine with defeats. A recent chapter unfolded at the US Open that captured the essence of athletic unpredictability. One of the Round 2 matches of the US Open saw an unpredictable protagonist: Dominic Stricker. Stricker managed to defy all odds in his match against the seventh seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas. Expectedly so, the Greek star tried to shift the focus of the humiliating defeat with an absurd excuse.

As the spotlight turned to Tsitsipas and his post-match remarks, the age-old questions resurfaced again. Was he seeking a scapegoat for his defeat? Or was he genuinely thinking about the things that influenced his loss?

Tsitsipas’ quest for answers amidst unexpected loss

Throughout the match, Tsitsipas came close to winning several times, especially in the fourth set. But the determination of Roger Federer‘s compatriot, Stricker, kept him from victory. The match ended with the final scoreline of 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the Swiss’ favor. But the circumstances following the match grabbed people’s attention. In an interesting turn of events, after the match, Tsitsipas admitted something that sent tongues wagging all over.

Tsitsipas he had been coughing during the game. When he was asked how he was feeling then, the Greek talked about his exposure to the elements and how the rapid temperature differences might have caused his sniffles. The Greek player disclosed, “I think it’s the air conditioning in here. It’s the transition of temperatures. I was playing in a hot center court a few minutes ago, and it’s freezing cold in here. I tend to cough sometimes when that happens.”

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However, deflecting the reasons behind his dismal trend at tournaments the past few months, Tsitsipas pulled an all-too-familiar move. His US Open remarks bore an uncanny resemblance to his past tendency to blame external reasons for his crucial losses.

Stefanos Tsitsipas embraces responsibility for poor show

Tsitsipas soon understood that his words might have sounded like he was making excuses. So, the World No. 7 decided to openly accept that he was solely responsible for his performance on the court.

In an effort to reclaim agency over his appearance at Flushing Meadows, he forthrightly took responsibility for his loss, avoiding any mention of his recent coaching shuffle. He affirmed, “By no means I’m supposed to put any blame on any people or any members of my team. Everything on court is under my control and under my talents, and the way I can play this sport are shown out on the court. If I’m not able to deliver, then I’m not supposed to be doing well.”

As Tsitsipas deals with the results of an early exit from the US Open, his habit of directing blame outwards and shirking responsibility has become a key conversation again. What do you think was to blame for Tsitsipas’ crushing defeat? Let us know in the comments below!

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