Stefanos Tsitsipas suffers shock first-round loss to Daniel Galán at US Open
The 27-year-old Tsitsipas, a former world No. 2, was beaten by second-seed Galán in straight sets Monday.
Here’s how Tsitsipas fared against every other top 30 player in the world
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ loss to Daniel Galán in the U.S. Open second round Tuesday ended in a shock first-round loss.
The loss ended three years of great form for Tsitsipas, who had won three titles on the clay-court circuit in Spain.
He’s now two games from his best season ever, which saw him reach the last four at Wimbledon last June and the US Open in August.
But Monday’s results are sure to spark renewed interest in the 23-year-old, who lost in the first round for the first time in his career.
The loss wasn’t a surprise given Tsitsipas’ form this season, during which he’s gone 12-2 in five tournaments at the Australian Open, the Cincinnati Masters, the US Open, the Rio Open and the Estoril Open.
But the Spaniard, who became the top-ranked player in the world after winning the Wimbledon title last year, was left to rue his loss, as he has now failed to qualify for the US Open for the sixth consecutive season.
Tsitsipas, who is ranked No. 1 for two weeks in a row, had no answer to Galán’s powerful groundstrokes and powerful serve in the final set. His serve would have won the match, but Tsitsipas couldn’t convert his backhand to give himself any chance.
This was his second straight loss to Galán in the third round.
For the win, Tsitsipas needed victory in the fifth set. He managed to win five of the six sets he played.
For the loss, Galán won the first four sets and took the final one.
Both players have lost early in the tournament on hard courts, though Tsitsipas’ loss at the hands of David Goffin at this month’s Rome Masters is his only defeat on clay.