Stefanos Tsitsipas Pulls Off His First Clay-Court Title at Estoril Open 2019

The Greek god of tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas becomes the third man amongst the ATP fraternity to win multiple titles in the tennis season 2019, previously, Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem collected two titles each this year. Tsitsipas dispatched the Uruguayan, Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 7-6(4) at the Millennium Estoril Open 2019 and picked up his first ever clay-court title.

After winning his title in Marseille, Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Roger Federer in finals in Dubai. Post that, he could just win four matches on the ATP circuit and which includes his two European clay-court wins in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona collectively.

In the finals in Estoril, Stefanos Tsitsipas saved set point in the second set and aced it out in the tiebreaker. As a child, Tsitsipas admired the 33-year-old, Cuevas. “Nobody knows that but Pablo is one of the players that I admire the most. Together with Federer”, he said.

Despite having a teetering beginning on the red dirt, Stefanos Tsitsipas decently dwelled on the Portuguese clay. He was just bothered by the fourth seed David Goffin in the semifinals against whom the Greek lad dropped a set.

With his first title on the European sludge, Stefanos Tsitsipas has now gathered three ATP titles, the first one being the Stockholm Open, where he became the first Greek player to win an ATP title and the next one came in Marseille this year. In Estoril, he was seeded number one and became the second player after Pablo Carreno Busta to lift the Estoril Open title as the number one seed.

“You really have to fight hard and give your soul out on the court”, Stefanos Tsitsipas said after his victory. “This title means a lot to me. It’s on clay, it’s one of my preferred surfaces. It’s nice to have completed the clay-hard court title (sweep) that I’ve been fighting for. Next is grass, or maybe even more clay-court titles this year, that would be wonderful”.

With no time to celebrate his first clay-court crown, the World Number ten, Stefanos Tsitsipas will be flying to Madrid for the Spanish Masters event. At Mutua Madrid Open 2019, Tsitsipas is expected to meet the defending champion, Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals.

Besides, Stefanos Tsitsipas pulling off his clay-court title in Portugal, his compatriot, Maria Sakkari tasted victory in Rabat, Morocco. With both the Greek players winning their titles, it is the first time in professional tennis history that there are Greek champions in both ATP and WTA in the same week.