Photo: Mark Peterson/ Corleve
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday June 5, 2024
Paris – Stefanos Tsitsipas is an absolute star on the red clay. But when it comes to Carlos Alcaraz, well that’s a puzzle he just can’t seem to solve.
The Greek took another firm thrashing at the hands of the Spaniard, and dropped to 0-6 lifetime against him. One of the pre-tournament favorites to win it all in Paris, Tsitsipas has now been knocked out of the draw by Alcaraz in successive seasons, in straight sets.
“I was pretty sure I could face Carlos today and maybe do something different than any other time that I have played,” he said. “The kid is just too good. I can only congratulate him because he's really playing amazing. I've maximized anything that I was able to try and do out on the court. I've maximized everything. I just need to figure this out.
“It's a difficult journey. It's not a pleasant one, for sure. Of course, I wish him the best because when I play against him, I get reminded of how much there is to get better at as a tennis player.”
Tsitsipas was closest in the second set on Tuesday night against the No.2 seed. He rebounded from a break down and forced a tiebreak, getting the crowd behind him, but couldn’t come through.
“Every time I get to play Carlos I feel like he delivers a shot quality that I don't quite get against other opponents,” Tsitispas said. “It just brings me trouble. Like, I feel like his shot is deep and has a lot of topspin to it and I just haven't been able to come up with something good.
“He in a way overpowers me, but he's also patient enough to do it in a very constructive way. I haven't felt like this on the court, and I haven't felt against a lot of players like this on the court. They are numbered on my fingers. Maybe one or two players that have been able to do that against me.”
The 25-year-old Greek drops to 28-10 on the season. He can still hold his head high after a solid run on the clay. He won his third Masters 100 title at Monte-Carlo and triumphed in 17 of his 21 matches. But when it comes to his own personal kryptonite he fell short again.
“I just need to get through that mental barrier. I feel like there was some voodoo stuff going on today on the court,” he said.