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“I Was Really Embarrassed to See Myself” – Stefanos Tsitsipas Opens Up on ATP Cup Incident

Published 01/19/2020, 8:01 AM EST

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World Number six Stefanos Tsitsipas gave a staggering performance at Australian Open 2019, as he dethroned the two-time defending champion Roger Federer in the fourth round. This year he is entering the tournament as one of the promising players on the ATP Tour. The defending semifinalist Tsitsipas is expected to make a deep-run at Australian Open 2020. 

A few days ago Tsitsipas played a nerve-wracking match against Nick Kyrgios at ATP Cup. Amid a meltdown the Greek smashed his racquet and that accidentally hit his father and coach Apostolos Tsitsipas. After going through the video clipping the Greek professional felt awkward to see his involuntary actions on the court.

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“I was really embarrassed to see myself in such a situation,” he said. “I guess I was just holding everything and it exploded at some point. (But) I think being balanced in my head and thinking in a straight line will help me. I think balance is important for someone to grow. If you are just one day on, one day off with your emotions, they can cost you.”

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WATCH: Stefanos Tsitsipas Hits His Own Father During Meltdown Against Nick Kyrgios

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We took it so seriously” – Stefanos Tsitsipas on playing Rafael Nadal in Abu Dhabi

Before beginning the 2020 season Stefanos Tsitsipas flew to the middle-east for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. There he set up the final match against World Number one Rafael Nadal and ended up playing a three-hour match and some quality tennis in the UAE. Tsitsipas lost 6-7(3) 7-5 7-6 to Nadal.

“This exhibition match against Rafa was like, I don’t know, top-class tennis,” Tsitsipas reflected. “It lasted three hours. Quite shocking for an exhibition. We took it so seriously, both of us.”

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In 2019 Nadal and Tsitsipas played each other four times, and the Greek gun defeated Rafa on Madrid’s clay. At ATP World Tour Finals 2019 they tussled for nearly three hours in the last round-robin match on the London’s court. And Rafa Nadal happened to be the victor of the battle. Despite his loss to Nadal, Tsitsipas went on to claim the biggest title of his career in the UK. 

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Mahalakshmi Murali

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Mahalakshmi Murali joined EssentiallySports in 2018 as a tennis author and has gone on to pen more than 1800 engaging articles, probing into various aspects of the sport and its illustrious players. With her expertise on the sport, Mahalakshmi has interviewed stalwarts from the sport such as Serena WIlliams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou and Kevin Anderson’s physio, Carlos Costa. Equipped with her vast experience and a keen understanding of the sport, Mahalakshmi now co-heads the tennis department.
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