“He was very clear what he needed to do”: Greg Rusedski explains why Stefanos Tsitsipas suddenly looks revived at US Open

Tuesday, 01 September 2026 at 21:00

Greg Rusedski believes Stefanos Tsitsipas has finally produced the kind of US Open performance that can change the conversation around his career after the Greek stunned No. 10 seed Arthur Fils in the first round.

The former British No. 1 had expected Fils to be one of the players to watch in New York after the Frenchman won his maiden Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati. Instead, Tsitsipas recovered from a set down to beat the recently crowned champion 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4.

It was a particularly important result for Tsitsipas, who had slipped down the rankings after struggling to reproduce the level that once took him to world No. 3 and two Grand Slam finals. The Greek had also lost his previous five meetings with Fils before finally getting his first victory over the Frenchman.

Rusedski, however, saw much more than an upset. He saw a player who looked decisive, aggressive and mentally strong when the match threatened to escape him, with Tsitsipas now given an opportunity to build something significant from one of the biggest wins of his season.

Rusedski impressed by Tsitsipas' response

Fils appeared to have the match under control after taking the opening set and moving ahead in the second. The Frenchman even served for a two-set lead, but Tsitsipas refused to let the opportunity disappear.

That comeback became the defining moment of the match, with the Greek eventually taking the second-set tiebreak before pulling away in the third and fourth sets. Rusedski was particularly impressed by the way Tsitsipas responded when Fils had the advantage.

"Arthur will be kicking himself. He was up a break, served for that second set, goes up two sets till that match is done and dusted. But Stefano showed us a lot of resilience," Rusedski said. "He showed us the aggressiveness. He was serving better, moving. He was very clear what he needed to do out there. So for him, that was a huge, huge win."

Stefanos Tsitsipas represents Greece at the Davis Cup

The result was even more significant because Fils had arrived in New York with genuine momentum. His Cincinnati triumph had come only days earlier, while his physical condition and powerful baseline game made him a dangerous opponent in a best-of-five match.

Rusedski had identified the matchup as a difficult one for the Frenchman even before the contest began. "In our preview show for Arthur Fils, I said, that's going to be a night session. It's going to be a difficult match for him."

For Tsitsipas, meanwhile, the victory provided something he has lacked for much of the season: evidence that his best tennis is still capable of beating a player arriving in outstanding form.

Tsitsipas' new direction is starting to show

The other major storyline for Rusedski was the change surrounding Tsitsipas. The Greek decided to remove his father, Apostolos, from the role of tennis coach and has subsequently worked with a new coaching setup involving Patrick Mouratoglou and a coach from the Mouratoglou Academy.

Rusedski believes that decision could be crucial because Tsitsipas is no longer simply trying to find another technical adjustment. He is taking greater responsibility for the direction of his career.

"I think it's all about taking ownership and responsibility. He decided he wanted a father that was not his tennis coach anymore, just his dad. And that was a huge decision for him before Wimbledon," Rusedski said. "And he's working with a French coach from the Mouratoglou Academy, who's done a great job as well as with Patrick. So it's a combination of the two of them doing the hard graft."

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The former British No. 1 also believes Tsitsipas' talent makes his recent ranking slide difficult to accept. The Greek has already shown that he can compete at the very top of the sport, and Rusedski sees no reason why that level cannot return. "And Tsitsipas is too good of a player not to be in that top 20, knocking on that top 10 range."

There were also signs that Tsitsipas was reconnecting with the aggressive style that has made him one of the most recognisable players of his generation. His movement, serving and willingness to take the ball early allowed him to wrestle control away from Fils, while his one-handed backhand once again became a major feature.

Rusedski summed up the feeling simply after watching the performance. "Welcome back Stefano Tsitsipas, the return of the one handed backhand. So I'm happy."

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That "welcome back" sentiment now comes with a challenge. Tsitsipas has produced major results before, including Grand Slam finals and a run to No. 3 in the world, but his next task is to turn this victory into a deep run rather than allowing it to become another isolated highlight.

For the moment, though, Rusedski believes there is genuine reason for optimism. Tsitsipas survived one of the most dangerous first-round opponents in the draw, recovered from a difficult position and showed the aggression and resilience that had been missing too often.

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The victory over Fils also gave Rusedski reason to believe that Tsitsipas' trademark attacking tennis is returning. The Greek served effectively, moved well and consistently looked to take the initiative rather than allowing Fils to dictate.

The one-handed backhand, meanwhile, remains one of the most recognisable weapons in the sport — and Rusedski was clearly happy to see it producing once again.

"Welcome back Stefano Tsitsipas, the return of the one handed backhand. So I'm happy," he said. "Stef is the return of the one handed backhand. We saw the end of another one yesterday with Stan Wawrinka's last match lost to Matteo Berrettini."

For Tsitsipas, though, the challenge now is considerably bigger than simply beating Fils. He has been to two Grand Slam finals and reached No. 3 in the world, but his recent results have left those achievements looking increasingly distant.

Rusedski believes the ceiling remains much higher. "Too good of a player not to be in that top 20, knocking on that top 10 range," he said.

That is the opportunity Tsitsipas now has in New York. After eliminating one of the tournament's most highly regarded emerging contenders, he has finally produced the kind of result capable of changing the narrative around his season. The next step is making sure it was not simply one great night.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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