Number eight seed Tsitsipas loses to Rublev in thrilling first round tie at US Open

Rublev has been getting better and better since defeating Roger Federer in Cincinnati and his hard court form continues.

It was a 4-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-5 win for the Russian in a gruelling affair. This was shown with the Greek ace having problems with cramp especially in the latter half of the game, that seemed to fire him up for a time but Rublev came back in the last set to win it 7-5 after converting a decisive break for 4-3 after denying seven break points in the previous game.

For the Russian, it is once again brilliance and a tournament he will aim to make a memorable one like in 2017 when he reached the last eight. Tsitsipas on the other hand will be gutted to be out at the first hurdle of a Grand Slam for the second consecutive tournament.

His cramp was that bad at one point that he was dragging himself on the baseline on one leg as he tried to serve and that contributed massively in his defeat after a match that he played brilliantly in the first set.

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