Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered another loss to Novak Djokovic in Monday’s ATP Finals as his hopes of finishing the year as world number one faded.
The Greek star knew that triumphing at the Turin tournament and winning every game would be enough to see him overtake the injured Carlos Alcaraz and take first place at the end of the season.
But Wimbledon champion Djokovic once again proved too strong and recorded a tenth straight victory over Tsitsipas, winning 6-4 7-6(4) to get off to a perfect start for the red group.
“If I played good tennis this week, won all my matches, I definitely deserve the (first) place. It shows good performances, consistency, but that doesn’t worry me too much,” Tsitsipas said during the interview. ‘a press conference.
“I’m pretty excited to have the opportunity to do something this week that could give me a record, a personal best and a milestone. I deeply believe that I can reach that point one day.
“I’m not really in a rush, to be honest. Of course, it would have been better if it had happened this week. I’m more here for the marathon than everyone else. I see the big picture in the long term. I have many opportunities next year to play good tennis.
“If you come, I will be very happy, my country will be very happy, my family will be happy. I just have to focus on myself, let go. If that happens, that’s great news. But I shouldn’t be too obsessed with it.
I deeply believe that I can reach this point one day. I’m not really in a hurry to be honest
Stefanos Tsitsipas on his bid to become world number one
Joining Djokovic at the helm of the red group is Russian Andrey Rublev, who got the better of compatriot Daniil Medvedev in a thriller.
Rublev kept his cool in the final set tiebreaker to win 6-7(7) 6-3 7-6(7).
Following his victory, world number seven Rublev appeared to send a message about the ongoing war in Ukraine, writing the word ‘peace’ three times on one of the court cameras, followed by ‘everything we need’.
Earlier in the day, Britain’s Neal Skupski teamed with Wesley Koolhof to defeat Australian duo Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(3) 6-4 10-5 in the green group of the doubles competition.
Tuesday’s action will see Rafael Nadal looking to continue his bid to end the year as world number one and also stay in the ATP Finals when he takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Nadal lost to Taylor Fritz at the weekend but knows success in Turin would see him overtake fellow Spaniard Alcaraz in the standings.
The Auger-Aliassime clash is a winner-takes-all contest after the Canadiens saw their 16-game winning streak come to an end for Casper Ruud on Sunday in the green group opener.
Ruud and Fritz face off in the other round robin match, with the victor set to secure his place in the semi-finals.
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