By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Stefanos Tsitsipas pulls the plug after three games against Holger Rune, retiring from the ATP Finals due to injury. Here's what it means for the Green Group.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Stefanos Tsitsipas' Turin trip is over, while Holger Rune's semifinal shot remains alive.
Tsitsipas retired in pain trailing Rune 1-2 in today's ATP Finals Green Group match.
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The 2019 champion Tsitsipas pulled the plug with a back injury 17 minutes into the match after a visit from the trainer left him looking grim and resigned.
"I had a bit of trouble with my movement; it's mainly affected when I move," Tsitsipas told the media in Turin. "It's difficult to compete at the match without having to move. This is tennis not darts.
"So for me, it's important to be fit and feel good with my back. The pain was very big. I've gone through pain during matches in the past and I endured pain, but this was clearly too much to handle and I had to take the difficult decision to do what I did."
Tsitsipas' retirement means he's out, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic can clinch his 12th semifinal in 16 ATP Finals appearances by beating home hero Jannik Sinner in tonight's second Green Group round-robin match.
It is Rune's first career ATP Finals win and comes after he pushed 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic to the limit in a 7-6(4) 6-7(1) 6-3 loss that spanned three hours, four minutes.
Rune said he heard Tsitsipas was plagued by elbow pain, but came to court prepared to play a full match today.
"I heard rumors he had pain in the elbow before even starting against Sinner," Rune told Tennis Channel's Prakash Amritraj afterward. "So I saw him and honestly I was preparing for a full match. I didn’t know.
"But we could all see his serve speed in the first game was not normal. It’s tough circumstances with the crowd but I wish him get well as fast as possible."
The sixth-seeded Greek said he felt stinging back pain from the outset.
"I felt it in the second game of the match," Tsitsipas said. "I actually felt it in the warm-up, warming-up on my serve. I felt very irritated and lots of pain hitting me on my back. And I kind of knew at that time that I might not be able to go all the way."
A stubborn Rune fended off a pair of break points in the opening game presenting Tsitsipas with a blue-print of his serving plan. Rune repeatedly kicked his second serve up high to the Greek’s one-handed backhand withstanding pressure to hold. Tsitsipas played two more games, consulted with the physio and then walked to net to shake hands.
Tsitsipas' pain, while obviously not ideal for him or the tournament, gives Rune's legs a reprieve and keeps his semifinal hopes alive.
If Djokovic, who is 3-0 lifetime vs. Sinner including a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) Wimbledon semifinal sweep in July, prevails again tonight, then Rune and Sinner would square off in their final Green Group match with a semifinal spot at stake.
"He can do whatever he wants on the court," Rune said of Sinner. "He can hit a great forehand, great backhand, great volley. Great movement, serve, everything. Obviously it's more tough here in Italy to play him. That's what it is. I'm just going to prepare."
The 20-year-old Rune improved to 14-14 vs. Top 10 opponents, while Tsitsipas dropped to 1-8 vs. Top 10 opposition in a season that saw him open with a run to the Australian Open final but battle elbow pain that severely limited him in Indian Wells and Miami.
Meanwhile, Rune will take this rest day and aim to recharge before a scheduled Sinner showdown.
"We worked a lot mentally trying to get back as good as possible; Novak is not the easiest test on first match," Rune said. "But I think we did well.
"Obviously still feel it a bit in the legs so to get a rest day not too bad actually. I wish to play the match, but it is what is."
Some fans whistled at the abrupt ending though Tsitsipas was clearly not fully fit.
In an effort to give day-session ticket holders more singles play, Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz came on court and played an exhibition.