Stefanos Tsitsipas laments ‘huge mistake’ during French Open semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic

Stefanos Tsitsipas believes he should not have tried “something new” during his semi-final defeat against Novak Djokovic, saying he should have stuck to his “ordinary and basic” game.
The Greek looked set for a three-set defeat at hands of Djokovic as he lost the two opening sets, but managed to turn things around and won the next two sets to force a decider. However, he eventually went down 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1.
Novak Djokovic holds off Stefanos Tsitsipas to set up French Open final against Rafael Nadal
Tsitsipas, though, feels his decision not to play his natural game cost him dearly in the opening two sets.
“I wish I could have figured [out] certain things earlier which, I don’t know, I felt like it was a total demolition, the fact that I tried those things in practice and tried to implement them in the match,” he said.
“It was something new. I wish I wouldn’t have tried these things and tried to stay to my ordinary and basic way of feeling the ball and also trying to dictate the game.
“I think that was a huge mistake today, that I tried this for two sets in a row, then came back to my old way of doing things.”
Tsitsipas has now lost his two Grand Slam semi-finals as he lost in three sets against Rafael Nadal in last year’s Australian Open.
The 22-year-old believes he has “matured” and should know when to change his tactics midway through matches.
“Well, if I think back at the Australian Open I was still a kid, and now I’m turning more into an adult,” he said.
“My thinking has changed. I’ve matured. I’ve been through a lot of things. I have grown from the people around me, my relationships, people in general…
“I have, of course, more experience in my pocket than before. I’ve played matches. I’ve experienced different things. I know when something is good or not, and I can, I think, dictate that earlier.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Tennis umpire hit with lifetime ban for manipulating scoring in several matches
ITIA comes down hard on corrupt official.
-
US Open
Novak Djokovic gets good news for 2023 US Open and other tournaments in America
Novak Djokovic is set to return to the United States.
-
Tennis News
Joao Sousa opens up about torrent of death threats, abuse, insults on social media from gamblers
Something needs to be done about social media abuse, says Joao Sousa.
-
Tennis News
Former Dutch No 1 says ATP top 20 is weaker than a decade ago, urges sport to move with the times
Robin Haase on the state of the game.
-
Tennis News
WATCH: Novak Djokovic rewards youngster after his lost credit card is returned at basketball match
This way for some wholesome content featuring Novak Djokovic.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz hopes to inspire ‘beast’ Fernando Alonso to a 33rd F1 race win
Carlos Alcaraz a big fan of Fernando Alonso.
-
Tennis News
Holger Rune wants to ‘put on a show on court’ and hopes to be part of new Big Three
Holger Rune to become one of the great entertainers in tennis?
-
WTA Tour
Bianca Andreescu’s fresh injury update as medical results are revealed
Bianca Andreescu has got the medical results back on the ankle injury she suffered in Miami.
-
Tennis News
Billie Jean King could be awarded Congressional Gold Medal
Billie Jean King could become the first female athlete to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.