Stefanos Tsitsipas suffers shock first-round loss to Daniel Galán at US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas is out of the US Open after falling to a shock first-round loss to Canadian Daniel Galán on Wednesday in New York.
Tsitsipas, a two-time champion who was in the running to become the first Greek to lift the US Open trophy since 2004, had been in fine form until then. He beat Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening four matches of the tournament in a run that ended with an easy first-round win over Lucas Pouille.
But it was Tsitsipas’s second match in New York — on the second day of his first Grand Slam tournament — that could have put an end to his chances, as he lost to Galán 6-3, 4-6, 4-6.
Tsitsipas did not play the second set but after winning the first three games, he saw his lead evaporate on match point when Galán hit a return that dropped the ball in the net.
“I played amazing the first four matches. I was in great shape,” Tsitsipas said. “I didn’t feel like I could do anything wrong. That’s the only problem with this sport.
“You are always waiting for something great to come out of it, then you’re disappointed you didn’t get it. That happened to me. I lost the first set but won the second and didn’t feel like I deserved one more point.
“If you make one mistake in every match you feel like it’s not fair. I was lucky enough to win my matches. But that’s part of the job.”
Tsitsipas is the 22nd man to win a major title without dropping a set on his Grand Slam debut in New York, and the second to do it in the last three years after Dominic Thiem.
“It’s hard to imagine the situation we’re in right now after just two tournaments,” said Tsitsipas. “It’s great what we’ve done with this team since then. We have to continue with this.
“The most important thing now is to keep going, keep believing. I have the passion for this. I always wanted