"This is tennis, this is not darts": Stefanos Tsitsipas says it's hard to play tennis not being able to move in response to ATP Finals injury criticism
ATPWednesday, 15 November 2023 at 22:30
Stefanos
Tsitsipas explained why he withdrew from the match against Holger Rune due to
injury at the 2023 ATP Finals.
The Greek
tennis player encountered issues in the pre-tournament training, but the
speculations were dispelled when he played against Jannik Sinner and fell 6-4,
6-4, showing no signs of physical discomfort during the match. Although he
skipped some practices, Tsitsipas did not seem to have physical problems when
facing the Italian.
However, in
his second match, this time against Holger Rune, he chose to retire with the
score at 2-1 in favor of the Dane in the first set, having spent only three
games on the court before his definitive withdrawal.
“I
practiced the last few days. I didn't spend a lot of time on the court. I had a
little bit of trouble with my movement. It's mainly affected when I move. It's
difficult to compete in the match without having to move. This is
tennis. This is not darts,” Tsitsipas said.
“For me,
it's important to be fit and feel good with my back. The pain was very big.
I've gone through pain during matches in the past, and I endured pain, but this
was clearly too much to handle. I had to take the difficult decision to do what
I did,” former world No. 3 added.
“I felt it
at the second game of the match. I actually felt it in the warm-up with my
serve. Warming up on my serve, I felt very irritated and lots of pain hitting
me on my back. I kind of knew at that time that I might not be able to go all
the way,” Tsitsipas concluded.
After his
withdrawal from the tournament, Tsitsipas considers his 2023 season concluded,
and Hubert Hurkacz will enter as an alternate to replace him in the
competition. The Polish player will only be able to participate in one
round-robin match against Novak Djokovic, so he does not have the possibility
to advance to the semifinals.
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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