By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 1, 2022
Stefanos Tsitsipas passed on an ATP Cup showdown with Hubert Hurkacz due to his right elbow.
Photo Source: Getty
World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas bowed out of a heavily anticipated Day 1 singles battle with Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday at the ATP Cup. The Greek, who had underwent a minor procedure to repair his right elbow about a month and a half ago, made the last minute decision to preserve his elbow.
“The recovery from my elbow surgery in November is on track for Melbourne and today was a precautionary step to make sure I make Melbourne. We will see day by day, match by match until then,” Tsitsipas said in a statement.
The Australian Open begins on January 17th.
There was good news and bad news regarding Tsitsipas on Saturday in Sydney. Though he was not fit to play singles he did put his elbow to the test on the doubles court and appeared to be feeling no ill effects.
A ninth Hurkacz-Tsitsipas singles match wasn’t in the cards, but the Greek later took the court with compatriot Michail Pervolakis to face Hurkacz and Jan Zielinski, after the No.9-ranked Pole had clinched the victory for Poland with a 6-1, 6-2 shellacking of World No.1076 Aristotelis Thanos in 46 minutes.
Poland joined Argentina, victorious over Georgia 3-0 thanks to singles victories from Federico Delbonis and Diego Schwartzman, and Spain, which blanked Chile 3-0 behind Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut, in the Day 1 winner’s circle at the ATP Cup.
Serbia and Norway are currently locked at one apiece as they contest the only live rubbers match of today’s ATP Cup action. Filip Krajinovic defeated Viktor Durasovic, 6-2, 7-5, while World No.8 Casper Ruud battled past Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 7-5.