Pundit makes brutal Stefanos Tsitsipas assessment after ‘very one-sided’ Jannik Sinner loss

Ewan West
Stefanos Tsitsipas faces Jannik Sinner at the 2023 ATP Finals
Stefanos Tsitsipas hits a backhand against Jannik Sinner at the 2023 ATP Finals

Greg Rusedski warned Stefanos Tsitsipas he has “gone backwards” following his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the opening match at the 2023 ATP Finals. 

The former world No 4 claimed three areas in Tsitsipas’ game have regressed since the start of the season and identified the departure of coach Mark Philippoussis as a reason for his struggles. He also predicted the Greek will lose early at the 2023 Australian Open and drop out of the top 10 if he does not improve.

Jannik Sinner produced a stunning display to earn a convincing 6-4, 6-4 victory against Tsitsipas in the first singles match at the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday afternoon, with the contest less even than the scoreline suggests.

The 22-year-old Italian won 12 more points than Tsitsipas and did not face a break point in the match, while he converted two of the five break points he created.

The world No 4 has now won his last two meetings with Tsitsipas routinely in straight sets, having lost five of the pair’s first six encounters.

Speaking on Amazon Prime Video, Rusedski contrasted the impressive way Sinner has developed in 2023 to Tsitsipas’ lack of progression and did not hold back in assessing the 25-year-old’s current situation.

“You look at both players: Sinner has improved out of sight, Tsitsipas has gone backwards. The backhand isn’t very good. Sinner basically knows exactly what he needs to do to beat this man and it was very one-sided. And Sinner will be absolutely delighted to come through so easily today,” said the British-Canadian.

“I think the first six months of the year he (Tsitsipas) was brilliant, down under in Australia he played some of the best tennis he’s played in his life. Mark Philippoussis comes back to the team, he wins in [Los] Cabos.

“And then all of a sudden, that relationship broke down, there wasn’t the communication that needed to be there and he isn’t the player he once was. The backhand slice has gotten worse, the block [return] has gotten worse, the second serve, he doesn’t have the placement.

“I’m sorry, he’s not the player he was at the beginning of the season. And if he doesn’t make those improvements at the beginning of 2024, he won’t be in the top 10 to start the year – he’s gonna go out early in Australia.”

Sinner reflected on his triumph and the support he received from the crowd in his home country in an on-court interview.

“I’m very excited to finally step on court, opening the Finals here is really, really special. And playing against Stefanos obviously, I knew already before that it’s going to be very, very tough,” said the Italian.

“But I think I handle the situation very well, I tried to stay pretty aggressive – which I’ve done – and obviously very happy about my  performance. Happy to start off with a win and hopefully I can keep this kind of level and intensity.

“Yeah for sure, it’s a very different week and special week. We play also with roof closed and indoors so it’s even more noisy and obviously a huge, huge thanks for the crowd.

“It’s such an incredible feeling, especially when you are standing there in the tunnel and coming out. It’s not something you have every day. So, I try to be really, really happy on the court but also very concentrated like today and focused.”

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